BS 

232.S 






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TO THE 



OIYING 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE SEVERAL BOOKS, 



THEIR CONTENTS, THEIR AUTHORS, 



AKS OF THE 



TIMES, PLACES, AND OCCASIONS, ON WHICH THEY WERE 
RESPECTIVELY WRITTEN. 



BY THOMAS' PERCY, D.D. 



> From the last London edition. -*fV of Cotifs-^ 



IBaltimore: "^^LWs 

EDWARD J. COALE & CO. 

Toy^prittt. 






^m^^A(©^% 



A CLEAR introductory illustration of the 
several books of the New Testament^ shewing 
the design of their writers^ the nature of their 
contents, and whatever else is previously ne- 
cessary to their being read with understanding, 
is a work, that, if well executed, must prove 
the best of commentaries, and frequently su- 
persede the want of all other. Like an intelli- 
gent guide, it directs the reader right at his 
first setting out, and thereby saves him the 
trouble of much after-inquiry: or, like a map 
of a country, through which he is to travel; if 
consulted before-hand, it gives him a general 
view of the journey, and prevents his being af- 
terwardslost and bewildered. 

That the following little work will be found 
to answer this flattering description, the com- 
piler dares not take upon him to assert; he 
can only say, that the contents are chiefly 



•^ 



IV PREFACE. 

extracted from two eminent writers^ who have 
particularly distinguished themselves in this 
branch of sacred criticism^ and have lately- 
thrown great light upon the subject. 

The first of these is^ Mr^ Professor Michae- 
lis, of his majesty ^s university of Gottingen^ 
whose ^^Introductory Lectures to the sacred 
books of the New Testament/^ translated from 
the German^ were published^ in one volume 
quarto^ in 1761.* The other is the Rev. Dr* 
Lardner^ whose ^^History of the Apostles and 
Evangelists^ writers of the New Testament^ 
with Remarks and Observations on every 
Book/^ was printed in three volumes 8vo. ia 
1760. The former of tiiese has displayed so 
much ingenuity and discernment^ and the lat- 
ter such a depth of learniugj as give the great- 
est advantage to such as would avail them- 
selves of their labours. 

But as their works are not of portable size^ 
and contain a multitude of curious disquisitions 
not within the reach of the generality of rea- 
ders^ the editor was tempted to give a short 
abstract of their respective contents^ cleared 

* Since this translation of Mr. Michael is's book was published, 
that eminent writer has very much improved and enlarged his work 
in the original German; and it will give satisfaction to the learned 
reader to be informed, that a translation of this excellent perfor- 
mance, with all the late additions and improvements of the deceased 
author, may soon be expected. 



PREFACE. V 

from all miscellaneous digressions, and reduced 
within a small compass for the pocket. He 
has not, however, merely confined himself to 
those two writers, but has enriched his work 
from other authors; thus in the key to the 
writings of the several evangelists, a full ac- 
count is given of the curious hypothesis of the 
learned and ingenious Dr. Ovven, who, in his 
^'^Observations on the Four Gospels/^ 8vo. 
1764, has opened a new source of information, 
and, by comparing the original language of the 
several evangelists, has started many new 
hints, which had escaped former inquirers. If 
the doctor should find a difficulty proposed, 
in the following pages, in respect to one part 
of his sQiheme, he will also see a solution offer* 
ed, which the editor apprehends will give new 
strength and consistency to the whole argu- 
ment. 

Besides these late writers, recourse was oc- 
casionally had to the learned and useful la- 
bours of Pyle, Doddridge, Bengelius, Dupin, 
and other former critics and commentators; 
from each of w^hom such parts were selected 
as seemed most solid and judicious; forming, in 
the whole, what, it is hoped, will be found a 
clear, concise, and not inconsistent compilation; 
in which the editor frankly acknowledges that 



VI PREFACE. 

very little will be found of his own^ and that 
he has no other merit than that of bringing 
into one compendium whatever he thought was 
most excellent in so many valuable writers. 

After this little work was first committed to 
the press^ the editor was favoured by an inge- 
nious friend with the short account of the se- 
veral sects and heresies that prevailed in the 
time of Christ and his apostles. A general 
knowledge of those is so necessary to our right 
understanding the sacred writings, in which 
one or other of them are constantly alluded to^ 
that this work would have been imperfect with- 
out it; it is therefore prefixed^ by way of intro* 
duction. In compiling this brief sketchy the 
M^riter acknowledges himself indebted not only 
to the valuable works of Godwyn^ Prideaux^ 
Calmet^ and Stackhouse, but to the vei y learn* 
ed system of ecclesiastical history by Mr, 
Chancellor Mosheim;, of the university of Got- 
tingen. 

To the same friend the editor is also indebt- 
ed for the short analysis^ or key, to the prophe- 
cies contained in the revelations^ with which 
this little book is concluded. 



CONTENTS 



0t the Jewish sects. 



INTRODUCTIOir, 

or parties, 



Of the christian sects, or Heresies, 

A chronology of Christ's public ministry, .... 

KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

The meaning of the words, Scripture, Bible, New Testament, 

Gospel, • . . . • 
The Order of the Four Gospels, 
St. Matthew's Gospel, 

St. Mark's, 

St. Luke's, . . . . 

St. John's, 

Acts of the apostles, 

The Order of the Epistles, 

To the Romans, . . . • 

The First to the Corinthians, • 

The Second to the Corinthians, 

To the Galatians, ... 

To the Ephesians, 

To the Philippians, . 

To the Colossians, • ; 

The First to the Thcssalonians, 

The Second to the Thessalonians, 

The First to Timothy, 

The Second to Timothy, 

To Titus, . . . , 

To Philemon, . • • . 

To the Hebrews, • . . . 

Of St. James, .... 

First of St. Peter, • . . . 

The Second of St. Peter, ; , 

The First of St. John, , . 

The Second and Third of St. John, 

OfSt.Jude 



The Revelation of St. John, 

Key to the prophecies in the Revelation 



13 
21 

30 



35 

40 

43 

51 

57 

63 

69 

73 

77 

86 

90 

93 

97 

100 

102 

104 

107 

108 

112 

114 

117 

119 

125 

127 

129 

131 

133 

134 

135 

142 



OF TUE 



t^Wl^H ^^^t^iii 



oil 



PARTIES ALLUDED TO IN THE GOSPELS. 



THE PHARISEES. 

The Pharisees were a sect among the Jews^ 
that had subsisted at least above a century and 
half before the appearance of our Saviour. They 
affected the most profound regard for the law of 
God, and the sacred books; but for the interpre- 
tation of them^ and the manner in which they 
were to be obeyed^ they depended chiefly upon 
traditional accounts. These traditions encum- 
bered religion with a thousand frivolous ob- 
servances^ which drew off the mind from the 
more important matters of the law; and made 
men look upon themselves as holy and accepta- 
ble to God^ not so much from their moral con- 
duct^ and observance of divine institutions^ as 
from their conformity to certain modes and 
punctilios of mere human invention^ introduced 
among them under pretence of being the tra- 
ditions of the elders.^ Hence their more 

* i. e. Ancients. 

2 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

than ordinary strictness in wearing tlie phylac- 
tery^ and singularity in enlarging the borders 
or fringes of their garments.^ Hence their 
superstition about the Sabbath, as if it had 
been unlawful on that day to walk in the fields, 
or to pluck the ears of corn, or to cure the sick, 
or to aid one's neighbour. Hence too their 
peculiar zeal and pretence to purity, in the 
demureness with which they fasted, the exact- 
ness with which they paid their tithes, the os- 
tentation with which they prayed, performing 
that duty not only aloud, but in the most pub- 
lic turnings of the streets; the ardour with 
which they encompassed sea and land to make 
proselytes or converts to their sect; their fre- 
quent washing, not only of themselves, but of 
their vestments and utensils; and their hold- 
ing at a distance, or separating themselves 
not only from Pagans, but from all such Jevvs 
as complied not with their peculiarities. To 
this last circumstance they seem to have owed 
the name of their sect; the word Pharisee 
being derived from a verb in the Hebrew,^ 
which signifies to divide or separate. This 

* The Phylacteries were litlle scrolls of parchment bound to their 
foreheads and wrists, on which were written texts of Sci-iptui'e, taken 
from Exod. xiii. 9, 16. and Deut. vi. 8. xi. 18. With regard to their 
BOiiDXiis and frixges, the reader will faid the origin of this distmc- 
tion in Numb. xv. 38. Dout. xxii. 12, 

* CHi)' J'harci&h, To divide. 



JEWISH SECTS. 15 

sect^ however^ not only held the soul to be im- 
mortal;, but had some slight notions of a re- 
surrection^ believing that on some occasions 
the soul might again re-animate a body: 
Whence their conjecture about Christ upon 
his first appearance^ that he was either John 
the Baptist^ or Elias^ or one of the old pro- 
phets; and hence too^, notwithstanding the vio- 
lence with which they had opposed the per- 
sonal ministry of Jesus, that aptitude they dis- 
played in after-times, beyond some of the 
other Jewish sects, to fall in with his Revela- 
tion. 

THE SCRIBES. 

The word Scribes, as that denomination 
occurs in the New Testament, appears to be 
the title not of any particular sect, distinguish- 
ed from all others as to their modes of practice 
or belief; but a general term applicable to 
all those of whatever sect, who made the law 
of Moses and the prophetical and sacred books 
their peculiar study, so as to become capable 
of commenting upon them, and thence of pub- 
licly instructing the people. This office seems 
however, to have been confined to the descend- 
ants of Levi, who being very numerous, and 
not at all times engaged in the immediate 
service of the temple, had leisure and opportijf 



16 INTllODUCTION. 

nity enough to qualify themselves for this daty> 
being unembarrassed with secular employ- 
ments^ and liberally provided for among all the 
other tribes. It appears indeed from the fre- 
quent mention that is made in the Gospel of 
the Scribes and Pharisees in conjunction^, that 
the greatest number of Jewish teachers or 
doctors of the law,^ for these are expres- 
sions equivalent to Scribe;, were at that time of 
the Pharisaical sect. In the Old Testament, 
we meet wdth the term Scribe in a secu- 
lar sense, as denoting sometimes a secretary 
of state^t sometimes a principal clerk in a 
court of judicature,^ and sometimes a com- 
missary or muster-master in the army;§> and 
although it is probable that a duly qualifi- 
ed man belonging to any of the other tribes 
might be admitted into any of these employ- 
ments, yet the superior opportunity that the 
descendants of Levi enjoyed for all sorts of 
literary improvements, renders it likely that 
they were generally preferred, especially in 
ancient times, even to these departments, 

THE SADDUCEES. 

The most ancient sect among the Jews was 
that of the Sadducees. This name may either 

* So the original word should have been rendered, where in our 
translation it is impropeHy expressed by the modern term lawyers, 
t 2 Sam. viii. 17. xx. 25. :|: Matt. ii. 4. 1. Maccab. y. 4^. 

§ 2 Chron. xxvi. U. 2 Kings xxv. 19. 



JEWISH SECTS, 17 

be derived from the Hebrew word Sedec^ which 
signifies justice; or from a certain teacher 
among the Jews called Sadoc. The former 
seems to have been the origin of the appella- 
tion^ according to the account of the Sadducees 
themselves; the latter according to the account 
given of them by the Pharisees in the Talmud. 
If we admit the former derivation^ it assigns 
no fixed date of the antiquity of this sect; if 
tlie latter^ it ascertains their rise to have been 
but a few years before that of the Pharisees. 
But be this as it may^ the Sadducees seem to 
have been originally strict adherents to the 
Mosaic institution^ and to the canonical books; 
only interpreting them in the most literal sense^ 
and rejecting all other explications. The su- 
perior estimation in which they held the Pen- 
tateuch^ or writings of Moses, to all other com- 
positions in the sacred collection^ gave rise in 
all probability to the report of their adversa- 
ries^ that they rejected the authority of the 
rest: and the doubts they entertained about a 
future stated a doctrine not clearly revealed in 
the writings of Moses^ and about any appear- 
ances of angels or spirits among me% since the 
finishing of the Jewish canon; seem to have at 
first given a handle to the Pharisees of render- 
ing them suspected of irreligion^ which in all 

probability was afterwards confirmed by men 

2^ 



18 . INTRODUCTION. 

of loose principles sheltering themselves under 
their name. This however is certain^ that at 
the time of our Saviour this sect is reputed to 
have held doctrines that were thoroughly im- 
pious.^ For they are said to have denied 
the resurrection of the dead^ the heing of 
angels^ and all existence of the spirits or souls 
of men departed. It was their opinion^ that 
there is no spiritual being but God only; that 
as to man^ this world is his all; that at his 
deaths body and soul die together never to live 
more; and that therefore^ there is no future 
reward nor punishment. They acknowledged 
that God made this world by his power^ and 
governs it by his providence; and for the car- 
rying on this government^ hath ordained re- 
wards and punishments^ but that they do not 
extend beyond this world. In a word, they 
seem to have been Epicureans in all respects, 
excepting only that they allowed that God made 
the world by his power, and governs it by his 
providence. At the same time that they held 
these loose notions, they are said to have had 
a bigoted attachment to the law of Moses; and 
whether it proceeded from this, or their con- 
sidering our Saviour as a seditious person, they 
soon joined with the Pharisees in bringing 
Christ and his disciples to death; for Caiaphas, 

* Vide Prideauxi 



JEWISH SECTS. 19 

who was of this sect, and who was high-priest 
of the Jews at that time, was he who condemned 
Jesus to be crucified; and Ananus the young- 
er,* another of this sect, put to death St. 
James the brother of our Lord. 

THE HERODIANS. 

Of the Herodians we meet with nothing 
among ancient writers, except in the New 
Testament itself; where also mention is made 
of certain GalilsBans, whose blood Pilate min- 
gled with their sacrifices, and who are de- 
scribed elsewhere in the New Testament as 
having made an insurrection against the gov- 
ernment, and are called murderers, or Sicarii.f 
The learned Calmet takes an opportunity hence 
of imputing to those called Herodians what- 
ever was done by these Galilseans, and thinks 
they were called Herodians, by the other Jews, 
because Galilee at that time was under the 
command of Herod surnamed Antipas. But 
when we reflect that this insurrection hap- 
pened long before Christ entered upon his 
public ministry, even as early as the tenth 
year of his age, when the insurgenis were en- 
tirely routed, and the party dispersed; whereas 

* Son of Annas the high-priest, mentioned in the gospel; who i$ 
also called Ana\:us, by Josephus. 

t Acts xxi. 38. See a tui tl^er account of this sect, or party, p 23, 
Under the name of Gualanites, 



§G INTilODUCTlOX. 

the Herodians are mentioned as still flourish- 
ing at the very time when Christ was employed 
in his mission; we cannot forbear assenting to 
the judicious conjectures of Dr. Prideaux and 
others^ w^ho look upon the Herodians not as a 
religious sect^ but a political party, who began 
to become eminent in the days of Herod the 
Great^ as favouring his claims^ and those of his 
patrons the Romans^ to the sovereignty of 
Judea. Some of these no doubt, might be 
wxak enough to imagine, that Herod w^as the 
Messiah, or wicked enough to pretend that 
they did, in order to serve his cause; and 
would be ready to vindicate his conduct, when, 
the better to pay his court to the Romans, he 
consecrated temples to some of their false dei- 
ties. And this party having begun in the time 
of Herod the Great, may well be supposed to 
have continued long afterwards in favour and 
power, by the indulgence of the Herods, and 
influence of the Romans. That leaven there- 
fore of theirs, against which our Saviour warns 
his hearers,^ must in this case have been, 
either their false conceptions of the Messiah, 
or their pliantness and conformity to idol- 
worship, or both. 

* Mark viii. 15, 



OP 



THE CHRISTIAN SECTS, 



0% 



HERESIES ALLUDED TO IN THE EPISTLES. 



TVhex the religion of Jesus began to be 
spread abroad in the worid^ it had not only to 
struggle with avowed adversaries^ such as the 
Jew and the Pagan^ by whom its professors 
were exposed to all manner of external dis- 
grace and calamities; but it had to support it- 
self in its native purity^ dignity^ and excel- 
lence^ against the corrupt doctrines which 
many of those whom it received into its com- 
munity had brought with them from the Jewish 
or Pagan systems; for under these two denomi- 
nations were all mankind at that time included; 
and both so very corrupt, as to be far more 
capable of imparting infection^ than of be- 
coming pure. 



Of the Jews who became Christians, there 
were^ besides such as had been of the sect of 



22 INTRODUCTION. 

the Pharisees^ &c. others that had imbibed the 
particular opinions of the Essenes and the 
Gaulaiiites. 

THE ESSENES. 

The Essenes seem to have been of a very 
remote antiquity. They might take their rise 
from that dispersion of their nation^ which hap- 
pened after their being carried captive into 
Babylon. The principal character of this sect 
was^ that they chose retirement; were sober^ 
were industrious; had all things in common; 
paid the highest regard to the moral precepts 
of the law^ but neglected the ceremonial, any 
farther than what regarded bodily cleanliness, 
the observation of the Sabbath^, and making an 
annual present to the Temple of Jerusalem. 
They never associated with women, nor ad- 
mitted them into their retreats; but gladly em- 
braced every fair opportunity of supporting 
and enlarging their society, by rearing, breed- 
ing, educating, and instructing other men^s 
children, as if they had been their own. By 
the most sacred vowa, though they were in 
general averse to swearing, or to requiring an 
oath, they bound all whom they initiated 
among them, to the observance of piety, jus- 
tice, fidelity, and modesty; to conceal the se- 
crets of the fraternity, preserve the books qf 



CHRISTIAN HERESIES. 23 

tlieir instructors, and with great care commem- 
orate the names of the angels. To them in all 
likelihood the apostle alludes^ when he in- 
veighs against those who forbid to marry, who 
command to abstain from meat, and who^ 
through a voluntary humility, pay worship to 
angels. But a more particukr description of 
these errors the reader will find below in the 
account of the 1st Epistle to Timothy. 

THE GAULANITES. 

The Gaulanites were Galilseans who had 
this name given them from one JudasTheudas, 
a native of Gaulan, m Upper Galilee: who, in 
the 10th year of Jesus Christ, which was the 
last of Augustus, and ten years after the death 
of Herod the Great, excited his countrymen 
the Galilseans, and many others of the Jews, 
to take arms, and venture upon all extremities, 
rather than pay tribute to the Romans. The 
principles he infused into his party were, not 
only that they were a free nation, and ought to 
be in subjection to no other, but that they w^erc 
the elect of God, that he alone was their go- 
vernor, and that, therefore, they ought not to 
submit to any ordinance of man. And though 
he was unsuccessful, insomuch that his party 
in their very first attempt were entirely routed 
and dispersed^; yet so deeply had he infused 



24 INTRODUCTION. 

his own enthusiasm into their minds^ that they 
never rested^ till in their own destruction they 
involved the city and temple. To this wild 
and fanatic party seems to he addressed many 
of those passages in the New Testament^ 
wherein ohedience to magistracy is so piously 
and rationally inculcated. 



THE NAZAHEENS. 

The Pharisees seem to have composed the 
chief body of those Christian converts^ who 
in the earlier times vvere distinguished by the 
appellation of Nazareens. These^ though they 
embraced Christianity^ yet entered so little 
into the real spirit and genius of it^ that 
they were still fond of the beggarly elements 
and carnal ordinances of the ceremonial law. 
To repress this their inordinate superstition^ 
seems to have been the intention of the severity 
with which the law is treated in the apostolic 
writings;, where not only circumcision is ex- 
claimed against;, but we are taught to let no 
man judge us with regard to meats or drinks, 
or the observance of holy days, or of the new 
moon, or of the sabbath; which were a shadow 
of things to come, whereof Christ is the sub- 
Stance.^ 

* See Col. ii. 16, &c. 



CHRISTIAN HERESIES. 25 



IL 



THE GNOSTICS. 

Of the Gentiles who were converted to 
Christianity, the most dangerous and perni- 
cious kind were those who were infected with 
the Egyptian philosophy; a system, as it was 
then taught, entirely chimerical and absurd. 
The Christians of this sort assumed to them- 
selves the name of Gnostics; a word of Greek 
derivation, implying a knowledge superior to 
that of other men. This word does not occur 
in the New Testament; but 

THE NICOLAITANS, 

of whom mention is made in the Apocalypse 
of St. John,* seem to have been of the Gnos- 
tic sect; as were also 

THE CERINTHIANS; 

for most of the errorsf maintained by Cerin- 
thus, and opposed in the Gospel of St. John, 
may be derived from the same source. 

When we say the Gentile converts were 
chiefly liable to the Gnostic infection, we must 
not be understood to exclude those of the Jewish 

* See this sect, described in a iiote to Revelation*;. 

t See them described at large in the account of St. John's Gospel. 

" 3 



26 INTRODUCTION. 

race^ many of whom were tainted with it^ but 
they seem to have derived it from the Es- 
senes.* 

THE EGYPTIAN PHILOSOPHY. 

The maintainers of this philosophy held^ 
that the Supreme Beings though infinitely per- 
fect and happy^ was not the creator of the 
universe^ nor the only independent being: for^ 
according to them^ matter too was eternal. 
The Supreme Beings who resides in the im- 
mensity of space, which they called Pleroma^ 
or fulness, produced from himself, sa^ they, 
other immortal and spiritual natures, stiled by 
them t^ons^-f who filled the residence of the 
Deity with beings, similar to themselves. Of 
these beings, some were placed in the higher re- 
gions, others in the lower. Those in the lower 
regions were nighest to the place of matter^ 
which originally was an inert and formless 
mass, till one of theih, without any commission 
from the Deity, and merely to shew his own 
dexterity, reduced it into form and order, and 
enlivened some parts of it with animal spirit. 
The being who achieved all this, they called 

* See the account of the fust Epistle to Timothy, &c. 

t ^TloHy in Greek, properly sis^aiiieS the age ot" man, but having 
been employed by philosophers to express the duration of spiritual 
and iisvisible beings, the beings tlieniselvcs were afterwards figura- 
tively cnlied ^flons^ or Durations, &c. 



CHRISTIAN HERESIES. 27 

the Demiurgus.^ But such was the perverse- 
ness of matter, that when brought into form, 
it was the source of all evil. The Supreme 
Being, therefore, never intended to have given 
it a form; but, as that had been now done, he, 
in order to prevent mischief as much as possi- 
ble, added to the animal spirit of many of the 
enlivened parts, rational powers. The parts 
to whom rational powers were thus given, 
were the original parents of the human race: 
the other animated parts were the brute crea- 
tion. Unluckily, however, the interposition of 
the Supreme Being was in vain; for the Demi- 
urgus grew so aspiring, that he seduced men 
from their allegiance to the Supreme Being, 
and diverted all their devotion to himself. 

These are the outlines of this phantastic 
philosophy. The corruptions flowing from it, 
when adapted to Christianity, were these. 
They held that the God of the Jews was De- 
miurgus; that to overthrow and subvert the 
power and dominion of this Demiurgus, Jesus, 
one of the celestial jEons, was sent by the Su- 
preme Being to enter into the body of the man 
Christ, in the shape of a dove; that Christy 
by his miracles and sufferings, subverted the 
kingdom of the Demiurgus; but when he came 
to suifer, the JEon Jesus carried along with 

* i, €. The operator, artificer, or workman. 



38 INTRODUCTION. 

himself the soul of Christ; and left behind upon 
the cross^ only his body and animal spirit: 
that the Old Testament ought to be rejected^ 
as having been the means whereby the Demi- 
urgus supported his influence among men; that 
the serpent who deceived Eve^ ought to be 
honoured^ for endeavouring to rescue men from 
their slavery to the Demiurgus; and^ finally, 
that we ought not to marry, or procreate child- 
ren, because in so doing, we generate matter, 
which is the source of all evil; and that there 
is no resurrection of the body, because the 
body is material. 

Against this philosophy, and not against 
true science of any kind, are all those texts 
of the New Testament levelled, which seem to 
arraign philosophy. This is that philosophy 
which is there described as vain, deceitful, 
traditionary, formed upon the rudiments of the 
world, and not after Christ. These are the 
profane and old wives fables; the endless gene- 
alogies, vain babblings, and oppositions of 
science falsely so called, which we are to reject, 
and not to give heed to. And of these so- 
phists, or Gnostics, as they called themselves^ 
the apostles write, when they say, ^^There 
are certain men crept in unawares, who were 
before of old ordained to this condemnation: 
ungodly men, turning the grace of our God 



CHRISTIAN HERESIES* 29 

into lasciviousness^ and denying the only 
Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.'^^ 
And again^ ^^Now^ if Christ be preached that 
he rose from the dead^ how say some among 
you, that there is no resurrection of the 
deadP^^t 

* Jude 4. t 1 Cor. xv. 12, 



To this IxTHODUCTiox may not improperly be subjoined a short 
Abstract of the Chronology of our Lord's Public Ministry, as 
proposed by Sir Isaac Newto?? , and some other critics, who make 
it to have lasted Five Passovers. But the more general opinion is, 
that it only continued three years, and was included in four Passo- 
vers. Some critics reduce it even to a still shorter period. — See 
the controversy on this subject betxveen Dr* JVe-wtoUy bishop of 
Waterford, and Dr. Priestley, 

It is here copied from Mr. Bowyer's Conjectures on the New 
Testament, &c. 8vo. 1772, a work equally learned and curioas. 
See his preface, page 31. 



3«- 



IKEilTf).]! 



HWM^^^ 



o? 



CHRIST^S PUBLIC MINISTRY. 



The fifteenth of Tiberius began Aug, 19, in 
the year 4742, of the Julian Period. [Tiberi- 
us's reign began Aug. 19, An. J. P. 4727. A. 
D. 14.] So soon as winter was over, and the 
weather became warm enough, John began to 
baptize. Luke iii. 1. [Suppose in March.] 
t/3. D. Tib. The first passover, John ii. 33. 
31. 16-17. Wednesday, March 28, after 
Christ's baptism, (which was^ 
we may suppose, in September 
the 17th of Tiberius not be- 
ginning till Aug. 19,) he came 
into Judea: staid baptizing there 
while John was baptizing in 
jEnon, John iii. 22, 23. 
John cast into prison in November. 
About the time of the winter 
solstice [in December,] fotir 



CHRONOLOGY. 31 

A. D. Tib. months before the harvest^ Je- 
sus Christ went through Sama- 
ria into Cana of Galilee^ Matt. 
iv. 12. A nobleman of Caper- 
naum went to him there^ and 
desired he would come and heal 
his son. He did not go^ but 
said^ ^^Go^ thy son liveth.'^ 
John iv. 
After some time there^ he passed 
through the midst of the peo- 
ple^ and dwelt in Capernaum^ 
Luke iv. 

32. 17-18. The second passover^ Monday^ 
April 14. He called Peter^ 
Andrew^ James^ and John; 
preached the Sermon on the 
Mounts Matt, v.; whither mul- 
titudes followed him from Jeru- 
salem^ where he had been at the 
feast. When the winter was 
tomin;5 on, he went to the feast 
of Tabernacles, in Sept. Matt, 
viii. l^J, 23. Luke ix. 51, 57. 
He went about the villages of Ga- 
lilee, leaching in their syna- 
gogues, and working many mi- 
racles. Matt. ix. Sent forth the 
twelve, Matt. x. Received a 



32 CHRONOLOGY OF 

A. D. Tib. message from John the Baptist. 
Upbraided the cities of Chora- 
zin^ Bethsaida^ and Capernaum^ 
because they repented not, Matt, 
xi. which shews there was a con- 
siderable time from the impris- 
onment of John till now. 

33. 18-19. The third passover, Friday^ 
April 3. After which the dis- 
ciples^ going through the corn 
fields^ rubbed the ears in their 
hands. Matt. xii. Luke vi. 1. 

^evlepo7rp6>ref)j "oH the SCCOud 

prime Sabbath;,'^ that is, the 
second of the two great feasts 
of the passover; as we say^ 
Low Sunday. 
He healed a man on the Sabbath 

day, Matt. xii. 9. Luke vi. 6. 
The Pharisees consulted to destroy 
him, when he withdrew himself. 
Matt. xii. 14. 
He spake in a ship three parables, 
one of the seedsmen sowing the 
fields. Matt, xiii.; whence we 
Biay infer, it was now seed-time; 
and that the feast of the Taber- 
nacles, in September or Octo- 
ber was past. 



ghrist's public ministry. 33 

A. D. Tib, He went into his own country, and 
taught in the synagogues; but 
did not any mighty work, be- 
cause of their unbelief. The 
Twelve returned^ having been 
abroad a year, and told him of 
John's being beheaded. He de- 
parted privately in a ship to 
Bethsaida. Fed five thousand 
in the desert, Matt. xiv. Luke 
ix. John vi. 4. 

34. 19-20. The fourth passover, Friday, 
April 23. John vi. 4. to which 
he went not up. John vii. 1. 
Henceforward he was found on 
the coast of Tyre and Sidon; 
then by the sea of Galilee, next 
on the coast of Csesarea Philippi, 
and lastly at Capernaum, Matt. 
XV. 21. 29. xvi. 3. xvii. 34. 
Went privately to the Feast of 
Tabernacles in autumn, John vii. 
2. The Jews thought to stone him 
but he escaped, John viii. 59. 
Went to the Feast of Dedica- 
tion in Winter, John x. 22. 
The Jews seeking to kill him^ he 
fled beyond Jordan, John x. 39, 
40. Matt. xix. 1. On the death 



34 CHROXOLOGY. 

•A. D. Tib. of Lazarus came to Bethany^ 
John xi. 7. 18. Walked no 
more openly^ but retired to 
Ephraim^ a city in the wilder- 
ness^ till 

35. 20. The fifth and last passover^ 
Wednesday^ April 13. Johnxi. 
53 — 55. In the consulship of 
a bins and Vitellius.^ 

♦ See further, eoncerning the abova Ghronology, tha 3d edition of 
Bowyer'8 Conjeetures, X782, 4to. p, 149, compared with Preface, p. 
24—32* 



KEY 



TO THE 



ir^w '^^^^AM^ifir^ 



The sacred writings^ which Christians re- 
ceive as divinely inspired^ are called in general 
Scripture^ or the Scriptures^ a word which 
literally signifies Writings or The Writings. 
This title often occurs in the New Testament^ ^ 
and was commonly applied in the time of our 
Saviour to denote the books received by the 
Jews as the rule of faith: it has since been ex- 
tended to the writings of the apostlesf and 
evangelists^ as completing the whole of divine 
revelation; so that the writings of the Old and 
New Testament are indiscriminately called by 
Christians^ by way of distinction^ Scripture, 
or;, The Scriptures. 

The whole collection of these sacred wri- 
tings is called the BIBLE: This word origi- 
nally signifies Book^ and is given to the wri- 

* 2 Tim. iii. 16. Luke iv. 21. f 2 Pet. iii. U, 



36 A KEY TO THE 

tings of the prophets and apostles by way 
of eminence. These collectively are called 
The Book^ or BIBLE^ the Book of Books^ as 
superior in excellence to all others in the 
world. 

The Holy Scriptures are divided into the 
Old and New Testament. The former contains 
the books written under the old dispensation 
of the Law of Moses; the latter those publish- 
ed under the new dispensation of the Gospel. 

The New Testament (containing the in- 
spired books written after Christ's ascension 
into heaven) is entitled in Greek h kainh 
AiA0HKHj a title which was early borrowed by 
the church from Scripture;,^ and authorized 
by St. Paul himself. f 

This title, according to the passages of 
Scripture whence it is taken, should be ren- 
dered Covenant. And in this view. The New 
Covenant signifies^ "A Book containing the 
terms of the New Covenant between God 
and Man.'' But according to the meaning of 
the primitive church, which bestowed this 
title, it is not altogether improperly rendered 
New Testament: as being that wherein the 
Christian's inheritance is sealed to him as a 

* Matt, xxvi. 28. Gal. iii. ir. lleb. viii. 8. ix. 15. 20. 
t 2 Cor. iii. 14. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 37 

son and heir of God^ and wherein the death of 
Christ as a testator* is related at large^ and 
applied to our benefit. As this title implies that 
in the gospel unspeakable gifts are given^ or 
bequeathed to us; antecedent to all conditions 
required of us; the title of Testament may be 
retained^ although that of Covenant is most 
exact and proper. 

The sacred writings of the New Testa- 
ment are all handed down to us in the Greek 
language, which was that most generally un- 
derstood at the time they were written, and 
are part historical, part epistolary, and part 
prophetical.! Of the former are, 

THE FOUR GOSPELS. 

The word EYArrEAioN, Evangelium, (gos- 
pel) signifies in Greek authors, any joyful ti- 
dings, and is exactly answerable to our English 
word gospel, which is derived from the Saxon 
words God (good,) and spel, (speech or ti- 
dings.) In the New Testament this term is 
confined to ^^The glad tidings of the actual 
coming of the Messiah;'^ and is even opposed 
to the prophecies concerning Christ, (Rom. i. 
1, 2.) So in Matt. xi. 5, our Lord says, ^^The 
poor have the gospel preached to them:'^ i. e. 

* Heb. ix. 16, 17. t Viz. Revelalioas. 

4 



38 A KEY TO THE 

The coming of the Messiah is preached to 
the poor. Hence the church gave the name 
of Gospels to the lives of Christy that is, to 
those sacred histories wherein the good news 
of the coming of the Messiah, with all its 
joyful circumstances^ are recorded. 

The chronological order of these sacred nar- 
ratives, according to the most eminent critics, 
who have considered this subject, is as follows: 

Table of the historical books, with the places 
when and where written, according to Mr. 
Michaelis. 

BOOK. PLACE. A. D. 

St, Matthew. Judea^ or neurit. 61 

In Hebrew, for the use of the Hebrews. 

St. Mark. Rome. 61 

For the use of the Romans, who under- 
stood not Hebrew. 

St. Luke. Alexandria. 63 or 64 

For the use of the Gentile christians in 
Egypt, Greece, &c. 

St John. Ephesiis. 69 

To refute the errors of Cerinthus and the 
Gnostics. 

Th e Acts by St. Luke. Alexandria. 63 or 64 
For the use of churches every where. 



KEW TESTAMENT. 39 

Dr. Mill and Dr. Lardner concur for the 
most part in these dates^ &c. only the latter 
thinks St. Matthew's Gospel was written in 
Greek about A. D. 64; that St. Mark's was 
also penned the same year; and that St. Luke's 
Gospel and Acts of the Apostles were first 
published in Greece. Dr. Mill thinks St. 
John's Gospel was written so late as the year 
97^ not long before his death. 

It is the general opinion of these and almost 
all other critics^ that the first three evangelists 
had not seen each other's gospels^ when they 
composed their own^ except St. Mark, who is 
allowed to have abridged that of St. Matthew: 
But an ingenious writer^ has lately compared 
the several gospels together in the original 
language^ and thinks he hath discovered strong 
internal proofs of the contrary: he has there- 
fore offered a new arrangement according to 
the following table: 

* Dr. Oweu. See his Observations oij the Four Gospels, 8'vo 
1764. 



40 A KEY TO THE 

A SCHEME of the times^ places^ and occasions of 
writing the gospels^, according to Dr. Owen. 

GOSPELS. PLACES. A. D. 

St. Matthew^s. Jerusalem. about 38^ 

For the use of the Jewish converts. 

St. Luke^s. Corinth. about 53 

For the use of the Gentile converts. 

St. Mark^s. Rome. about 63 

For the use of christians at large. 

St. John^s. Ephesus. about 69 

To confute the Cerinthian and other heresies. 

This ingenious writer thinks^ St. Matthew 
wrote his gospel for the use of the churches at 
Palestine, then composed of Jewish converts, 
and adapted to the condition of the times, and 
nature of their circumstances. 

^^When the Gentiles were admitted into the 
christian church, St. Luke, as the exigence of 
their state required, strengthened their faith 
by another gospel, accommodated to their spe- 
cial use. 

^^And when the invidious distinction between 
Jew and Gentile had well nigh ceased, St. 

* This and the date of St. Luke's Gospel are controverted in the 
following pages; however, the general arrangement may be allowed 
to stand here. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 41 

Mark^ wisely rejecting the many peculiarities 
of these two gospels; compacted a third out of 
their most important contents, for the benefit 
and instruction of christians at large. 

^^And afterwards^ when the church was infest- 
ed by heretics, St. John undertook to confute 
their errors from the life and conversation of 
Christ; which produced the last of these gos- 
pels; and afforded the author an opportunity 
of relating several remarkable things which 
had been omitted by his predecessors. 

^^These four gospels he thinks^, form one 
complete system of divinity: and if we read 
them in the order they are here placed in^ we 
shall find them improving on one another, and 
yet all conspiring to one end, to a perfect re- 
presentation of revealed religion. Each of the 
authors consulted the writings of his predeces- 
sors; and either by the additions of facts — ex* 
planation of terms — or confirmation of doctrine^ 
contributed something to the common stock 
and the general instruction of christians. They 
likewise quoted each other^s words, and there- 
by recommended each other^s histories; by 
which means they become not only mutual 
vouchers for the truth of these genuine gospels, 
but at the same time joint opposers of all those 
spurious ones that were impiously obtruded 

4* 



43 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

upon the world. St. Luke, by his quotations^ 
referred his readers to the Gospel of St. Mat- 
thew. St. Mark again referred to both the 
former. And all three were approved of by 
St. John, and appointed to be read in churches. 
And afterwards when he wrote his own, it was 
ushered into the world with the knowledge^ 
approbation, and perhaps testimony of all the 
Asiatic bishops. Thus was the whole evan- 
gelic history finally closed, and the evangelical 
canon established upon the firmest ground; and 
by the most venerable authority.'^ 



OF 



THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO 



w^ MAwwmmw^ 



<^ 



This gospel was written before the other 
three. The author of it was an eye-witness of 
most of the facts he relates^ having been early 
called to the apostolic office by Christ himself.^ 
Besides the name of Matthew^ he had also that 
of Levi, being the son of Alpheus; but not of 
that Alpheus or Cleophas, who was the father 
of James, &c.t He was originally, by profes- 
sion, a publican, or collector of the Roman 
taxes: his office consisted in gathering the cus- 
toms of such commodities as came by the sea 
of Galilee, and in receiving tribute from such 
passengers as went by water. This lucrative 
post he cheerfully quitted for the sake of Christ, 
to whom he became a faithful attendant and 
eye-witness of all his miracles. 

* See Matt. ix. 9. Mark ii. 14, f Matt» x. 3. 



44 A KEY TO THE 

In what year St. Matthew wrote his gospel 
is not agreed by ancient writers; some dating 
it in the year of Christ 41^ others in 49^ 
and others between the years 61 and 64. 
This last account is gathered from IrensBus^ 
and is what the most judicious modern critics* 
are inclined to preter; not only as Irenseus 
was the most ancient of those who have given 
the circumstance of time, but for other reasons. 
The Hebrews suffered about that time a heavy 
persecution, which almost drove them to apos- 
tacy, and obliged St. Paul to write his epistle 
to them. In these circumstances, nothing could 
be of more expediency and use to them, than a 
history of the miracles and resurrection of 
Christ. It is most probable therefore, that 
both his gospel and the Epistle to the Hebrews 
were written with the same view, to preserve 
the christians of Judea in the faith. 

Again, this gospel contains several plain pre- 
dictions of the miseries and desolation of Jeru- 
salem, and of the overthrow of the temple, &c. 
besides many other figurative intimations of 
the same thing, which could not safely be pub- 
lished to all the world in writing, till towards 
the conclusion of the Jewish state. 

* Michaelis is for the year 61. Lardner is for 64. See also 
Basnage, tke. 



NEW f ESTAMKNT. 45 

An ingenious writer^ has lately proposed a 
much earlier date of St. Matthew's Gospel: he 
indeed thinks that it was written in a time of 
persecution^ for the use of the Jews; but then he 
supposes it was in that first persecution^ which 
raged in Palestine after the death of the Mar- 
tyr Stephen: about the year of Christ 38^ in 
the second year of the Emperor Caligula. 

There is, however a capital objection to this 
very early date; and that is, the great clearness 
with which the comprehensive design of the 
christian dispensation, as extending to the 
whole gentile world, is unfolded in this gospel. 
Whereas it is well known and allowed by all, 
that for a while our Lord's disciples laboured 
under Jewish prejudices; and that they did 
not fully understand all his discourses! at the 
time they were spoken. They could not clear- 
ly discern the extensive design of the gospel 
scheme, till after St. Peter had been at the 
house of Cornelius, and there received gentile 
converts into the church without circumcision; J 
nor indeed till after the gospel had been 
preached abroad in foreign countries by St. 
Paul and other apostles. 

* Dr. Owen. See his Observations on the Four Gospels, 8vo. p. 22- 
t Vide John xvi. 12 — 14; and other passages, 
t Acts, chap. X. This event is placed by ehronologists about th^ 
ar 39. 



46 A KEY TO THE 

Now^ if we turn to St. Matthew^s Gospel, 
we every where find the enlarged views of his 
divine Master represented in too clear a man- 
ner to admit a doubt that the writer was ig- 
norant of their full tendency and meaning. 
Thus he shews that the apostles were to teach 
all nations.^ He represents the spirituality 
and freedom of the gospelif and that our Sa- 
viour was designed to be a blessing to the 
Gentiles.J That the same evangelist under- 
stood the calling of the gentiles and the rejec- 
tion of the Jews, may be inferred from several 
passages.^ He had also a distinct apprehen- 
sion of the extent of our Lord's kingdom, and 
the progress of his doctrine, when he recorded 
those parables in chap. xiii. And it is proba- 
ble he had some knowledge of the gospeFs 
having been preached out of Judea, when he 
put down that declaration concerning the wo- 
man in chap. xxvi. 13. 

There is also an expression used once or 
twice, intimating that some considerable space 
of time had elapsed between the event and the 
time when this gospel was written. See chap, 
xxvii. 8, and chap, xxviii. 15. || 

* Chap, xxviii, 19. f Chap. xv. 10, '20, ^ Chap, ii. chap. iii. 9, 
§ Chap. viii. 10 12. chap, xxi. 33, 46. chap, xxii 1 14. 
U See this argument handled more at large by Dr. Lardner, Sup- 
plement, chap. v. vol. i. The same author has shown many advan- 
tages of the late publication of the gospel, in his Credib. vol. viii. p. 
J24. 137. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 47 

Whoever weighs all these circumstances^ 
will rather be inclined to fix the date of this 
gospel in the later persecution of the Jewish 
christians of Palestine about the year sixty-one^ 
than in the more early one in thirty-eight. 
For it is the unanimous opinion of antiquity, 
that ^^St. Matthew wrote his gospel for the 
service of the Jews in Palestine;* with a view 
to confirm those vyho believed^ and to convert, 
if possible, those who believed not.'^ This 
opinion is supported by several passages of his 
gospel. Thus the evangelist begins with the 
genealogy of Christ from Abraham; which, 
agreeably to the Jewish custom, he gives ac- 
cording to the legal descent by Joseph his sap- 
posed father; deducing it down from Abraham 
through David, to show his title to the kingdom 
of Israel. Thus also he refers often to Jewish 
customs; relates the most of our Saviour^s dis- 
courses against Jewish errors and supersti- 
tions;t quotes the greatest number of passages 
from the Jewish scriptures; answers the most 
considerable Jewish objections; and frequently 
makes use of ihe terms and phrases of Jewish 
theology. 

* Origen,apud Kuseb. I. vi. c. 96, Hieron, and Theophylact in 
Matt. Vide Dr. Owen, passim, 
t Chap, xxiii, I — ^3. 



48 A KEY TO THE 

That this evangelist wrote in a time of per- 
secution, appears from the many useful lessons 
which he gives to comfort and support the suf- 
fering christians; and to moderate, win over, 
or at least deter, the persecuting Jews. With 
regard to the christians, he informs them that 
their afflictions were no more than what they 
had been taught to expect, and had engaged to 
bear, when they embraced the gospel;* that 
their sufferings were useful to them, as trials 
of their faith;t that a cowardly desertion of 
the gospel would only expose them to greater 
calamities, and cut them off from the hopes of 
heaven;! that they might lawfully use means 
of preservation, when consistent with inno- 
cence: § that the observance of the rules of the 
gospel was an excellent means to softeii the 
fury of their enemies: || and that it was better 
to suffer martyrdom, than by any base compli- 
ance to incur God^s displeasure.** 

On the other hand, with regard to the un- 
merciful Jews, he tries to soften their preju- 
dices, and engage them in the practice of meek- 

* Chap. X. 21, 22, 34—56; chap. xvi. 24. 

t Chap. V. 11; xxiv. 9—13. 

I Chap. X. 28, 32, 33, 39. 

^ Chap. X, 16, 17,23. 

li Chap. V. 39; vii. 12, 24—27; chap, v, 13—20. 

*^ Chap. xvi. 25—27; chap. x. 28. 



NEW TESTAMENT^ 49 

iiess and charity:* to this end he inculcates the 
amiableness of a compassionate and benevolent 
disposition: t its advantages here, and rewards 
hereafter.^ He reminds them of the judg- 
ments inflicted on their fathers for the cruel 
treatment of the prophets^ and that they might 
expect worse if they persisted in the ways of 
cruelty: §> for that God, though long-suffering, 
w^uld at last vindicate his elect, and punish 
their oppressors with a general destruction. || 

St. Matthew is said by ancient writers to 
have written his gospel originally in Hebrew 
or Syriac, out of which it was early translated, 
either by himself, or some other apostolic 
writer, into Greek, as being the more universal 
language. However, some judicious critics 
among the moderns, by examining the internal 
structure of the Greek text, have found reason 
to believe, that the ancients were mistaken in 
this respect, and that the Greek copy is not a 
version, but the original.** 

* Chap. ix. 13. 

t Chap. V. 3 — 48; chap, xviii. 23 — 35. 

^ Chap. V. 5, 7, 9; chap. x. 40—4^; chap, xviii. 23—35; chap. v. 
21— ^z6; chap. XXV. 31—46. 

§ Chap xxiii. 27—39; chap, x, 14, 15. 

Ij Chap. xxiv. I, &c. 

** See Lardner, Joitin, Doddridge, Wetstein, Basnage,&e. How- 
ever, the contrary opiuioii is njaintained with no siigiit arguments, 
by Michael is. 



50 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

After all, whether the present gospel was the 
original or the translation, it is agreed on all 
hands to be of divine authority, being publish- 
ed in the apostolic age; universally received 
by the christian church as authentic; and many 
passages of it being (as a learned writer has 
lately shown)* incorporated into the Gospels 
of St. Mark and St Luke, who have therel)y 
borne testimony to its genuine sense, and set 
their seals to its authority. 

* See Dr Owen's Observations on the Four Gospels. By way of 
specimen, compare Mark iv 1-9, with Matt. xiii. 1-9; and Mark 
xiv i:6--46, with Matt. xxvi. 30-50. So again compare Luke ui. 
4.-6, with Matt, iii 3, fee; Luke iii. 7-9, with Matt. iii. 7-10; Luke 
iii.l6, 17, with Matt. iii. 11, 12;Lukex.i. 22-31. with Matt. v.. 
25-33; Luke vii. 20, 22-28, with Matt- x i. 3-11, &c. He 



OF 



THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO 



This gospel is agreed to have been writ- 
ten by that Mark whom St. Peter affectionately 
calls his son^ i. e. his worthy disciple,^ and 
whom the ancients affirm to have been the 
familiar companion of that apostle. He is also 
believed to have been the John surnamed 
Market to whose mother's house St. Peter re- 
tired when released by the angel out of prison, f 
and who is the same John that accompanied St. 
Paul and Barnabas in their travels. § Mark 
was only his surname^ which he had probably 
assumed in compliance with the Jewish custom, 
while he travelled among the heathens, to 
whom his Hebrew name of John would have 
appeared too foreign. 

* 1 Pel. V. 13. t See Lardner, Michaelis, &c. 

+ Acts xii, 12. § Ibid. ver. 25. 



B2 A KEY TO THE 

His mother dwelt at Jerusalem^ and the 
christians assembled at her house;* he was 
cousin to Barnabas^t ^^^ attended him and St. 
Paul in their first travels among the Gentiles, J 
but he soon separated from them,§ which oc- 
casioned a division between these two apos- 
tles, when Barnabas took him along with him 
another journey. || However, when St. Mark 
lived at Rome about the time of St. PauFs 
imprisonment, that apostle had so good an 
opinion of him, that he reckons him among his 
fellow-labourers,** and had thought of send- 
ing him to Colosse.ft 

St. Mark, even humanly speaking, was a 
yery credible witness of the life of Christ. He 
was strictly speaking, an evangelist, i. e. a 
preacher sent by the apostles to Jews and 
Gentiles, without being confined to any par- 
ticular church. What Timothy was to St. 
Paul, Mark was to St. Peter and Barnabas, 
and at last he bore the same relation to St. 
Paul himself. It was usual for such evange- 
lists to have extraordinary gifts of the Holy 
Ghost, t J Hence we have just reason to believe 
that St. Mark wrote by inspiration: and as 

* Acts. iii. 12. t Col. iv. 10. 

^ Acts xii. 25. § Acts xiii. 13. 

II Acts. XV. S6--40. ** Philem. 24. 

•it Col. iv. 10. U 1 Tim. iv. 14, and 2 Tim. 1. 6, 



NEW TESTAMENT. 53 

the primitive church has transmitted to us his 
gospel^ as a book of divine authority^ without 
ever entertaining the least doubts of his inspir- 
ation^ we have no reason to consider it as a 
mere human composition. 

St. Mark is universally allowed to have 
written after St* Matthew,^ and a learned 
writerf thinks^ he also wrote after St. Luke. 
The gospels of these two evangelists were 
written^ that of St. Matthew with particular 
reference to the Jews^ that of St. Luke with a 
view to the Gentiles; the Gospel of St. Mark 
(according to this supposition) was composed 
last of the three, in a still more simple form^ 
and for more general use. It was written at 
the request and for the use of the christian 
church at Rome; which was at that time the 
grand metropolis and common centre of all 
civilized nations. St. Mark's Gospel is there- 
fore a simple and compendious narrative^ di- 
vested of almost all peculiarities, and accom- 
modated to the use of christians in general. 

As the other two evangelists had been so full 
in their accounts of our Saviour's birth and in- 

* jVI. Michael is thinks that St- Mark had St. Matthew's Gospel 
chiefly before him, and wrote principally with a design of publishing 
in a more known language (sc the Greek) that which 6t, Matthew- 
had written in Hebrew. 

t Dr. Owen. 6te iiis Observations on the Four Gospels mention- 
ed above in the introduction. 

5* 



54 A KEY TO THE 

fancy^ this will account for St. Mark^s passing 
over that period of the history^ and confining 
his narrative to the time of our Lord^s public 
mission. And as this had been so well related 
already, he had little more to do than to 
abridge the two former gospels, varying some 
expressions, and inserting some additions, 
which he probably had from St. Peter. Who- 
ever compares St. Mark with the other two 
evangelists, will find that he copies largely 
from both,* and takes one or other of them con- 
stantly for his guide, but chiefly St. Matthew: 
the order, which is his own, is very close, and 
well connected. In his account of facts he is 
clear, exact, and critical; for he wrote for the 
perusal of a learned people: and he proceeds 
with caution, as it were to clear his gospel 
from all objections. 

His exordium is singular; for whilst other 
evangelists style our Saviour ^Hhe Son of 

* See Dr. Owen's Observations, &c, passim. Compare in the 
Greek, Mark iv. 1.--9, wiih Matt, xiii, 1—9; where the parable of 
the Sower is taken from St. Matt. So agaivi m the explanation of the 
PaTHbie, ver. 15—20. he had his eyes on St Matt. ver. 19—23, till he 
comes to the conclusion, ver. 21, 22, 25, where he makes a transition 
to St. Luke, chap. viii. 16—18. Couipare also St. Mark i, 21—28, 
with Luke iv. 31—37, &c. &c This coincidence proves at least that 
one of these two evangelists (St. iviyrk an(i St. Luke) had seen the 
other when he wrote. Which of them wrote first must be collected 
from otlier proofs. 



^EW TESTAMEXT. 55 

Man/^ he calls him expressly ^^the Son of 
God:^^ an august title, the more likely to 
engage the attention of the lordly Romans. 
With the same view probably he omits such 
particulars as might be of mor^ use to his coun- 
trymen than to foreigners: as the genealogy 
of Christ; the massacre of the children of 
Bethlehem; the account of Jesus^s birth; the 
Sermon on the Mount, which exposes the false 
morality of the pharisees, to which the Gen- 
tiles were strangers: and in general the quota- 
tions of certain prophecies of the Old Testa- 
ment. On the other hand, he adds some 
things for the sake of the Gentiles, to enable 
them to understand the history of Clirist, 
Thus in chapter vii. 2, he explains what was 
the meaning of ^^defiled^^ or ^^common^' among 
the Jews: and in ver. 3, 4, instructs his 
readers in the Jewish customs, which was unne- 
cessary in St. Matthew. In chapter xv. 21, 
having mentioned Simon the Cyrenian, he 
adds, that he was ^^the father of Alexander 
and Rufus,^' because both these persons resi« 
ded at Rome, and were known to the Roman 
christians.^ And perhaps the young man 
mentioned in chapter xiv. 51, 52, was a Ro- 
man, whose curiosity might lead him to know 

* bee Kom, .Vf'u 13. 



5B A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT, 

the cause of the tumult, and being a stranger 
might be the sooner suspected, and thereiore 
apprehended. He had perhaps often told the 
story at Rome; and the evangelist thought 
proper to confirm it. In this light it makes a 
good argument. All internal marks of this 
sort confirm the report of the ancients, that 
St. Mark wrote his gospel chiefly for the use 
of the Romans. 

The time when he wrote it appears^ to 
have been about the end of the year 62 or 63, 
the ninth of the emperor Nero, when the 
church stood in need of all the consolations 
of religion, to support it under the afliictive 
weight of a most dreadful and cruel persecu- 
tion. 

The Greek language was at that time more 
in request at Rome, than the French is among 
us; so that the most familiar letters of the em- 
peror Augustus (which are still extant,) are 
commonly either in Greek, or intermixed with 
Greek. We are not, therefore, to wonder that 
St. Mark, a foreigner, wrote his gospel in that 
language-, for the use of the christian church in 
general. 

* See Dr. Owen's Obserrations, p. 76—80. Mill, &c. 



or 



THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO 



This Gospel is generally allowed to have 
been written^ by that ^^beloved physician/^ 
who is mentioned by St. Paul in Col. iv. 14, 
and who appears from that passage to have 
been a gentile.^ Consequently he was neither 
one of the seventy disciples, nor an eye-witness 
of our Saviour's miracles, as hath been some- 
times supposed;! but we know that he was in- 
timately acquainted with apostolical persons. 

That St. Luke travelled with St. Paul to 
Rome, and there assisted him some time, ap- 
pears from several passages of scripture. J 
From hence he is affirmed, by the ancients, to 
have gone into Africa, and to have preached 
the gospel at Thebes in Egypt. His inter- 

* Col. iv* 11, compared with verse 14. 

t Luke i. 3. 

:jr Acts xxviii, 13—46; Col. iv» 14; Philem* 24, 



58 A KEY TO THE 

eourse with the apostles and eye-witnesses of 
the works of Christ-, renders him an unexcep- 
tionable witness^ as a man; especially since he 
assures us^ that he investigated every thing di- 
ligently^* and had drawn it from the fountain 
head.f And it is no more objection to the di- 
vinity of his book^ that he wrote from the in- 
formation of others, than it is to the inspira- 
tion of Moses, that he took his first book from 
ancient records, and sometimes refers to other 
booksif and therefore we may well receive the 
universal testimony of the christian church, 
that St. Luke, under the direction of the Holy 
Ghost, committed to writing those particulars, 
which he had received from infallible wit- 
nesses. 

It has been the common opinion, that St. 
Luke wrote later than St. Matthew and St. 
Mark; but the ingenious writer so often 
quoted, § thinks that St. Mark wrote last of 
the three; and this, as we have seen, has great 
appearance of reason. || 

* 'A>c^/f ^5. ^'Ay6f$£v, I Numb. xxi. 27. 

§ Dr. Owen. See his Observations on the Gospels. He fixes 
the date of St. Luke's Gospel in A, D. 53; if so, it must have been 
written before St. Matthew's, (see above, p. 45;) but as the contrary 
seems demonstrable from the passages of St. Matthew, copied by St. 
Luke, (see below,) we must assi^^n h later date to St. Luke's Gospel i 
unless we date St. Matthew's Gospel in 41 or 49, 

8 F» 53, 



ISEW TESTWfENT. S9 

St. Jerom affirms^ that St. Luke penned his 
gospel on the borders of Achaia and Boeotia, 
which should seem to be at the time when he 
was attending St. Paul in his travels through 
Greece; under whose care and inspection he 
probably wrote it. It is agreed to be this evan- 
gelist^ whom that apostle expressly styles, ^Hhe 
brother whose praise is in the gospel. ^^^ And 
that St. Luke wrote agreeably at least to St. 
PauPs sense, will be evident to any one that 
compares the two passages quoted in the mar- 
gin,t where the apostle and evangelist have 
both used the very same words in Greek, to 
describe the institution of the Lord's supper; 
this coincidence shews the agreement of their 
sentiments, which ever of them is supposed to 
have written first. 

St. Matthew's Gospel being intended chiefly 
for the Jews, it was highly expedient that some 
inspired apostolical person should write such a 
history of our Saviour's life, as might satisfy 
the inquiries, and be adapted to the situation 
of the gentile converts. This accordingly ap- 
pears to have been the peculiar view of St. 
Luke, in his gospel; for writing to those who 
were far remote from the scene of action, and 

* 2 Cor. viii. 18. 

t Luke xxu, 19^ 20, with 1 Cor, xi. 23—25. 



60 A KEY TO THE 

ignorant of Jewish affairs^ it was requisite for 
him to descend to many particulars, and touch 
on many points, which would have been unne- 
cessary when writing to the Jews. Hence he 
begins his history so much farther back than 
the rest, and is so careful in specifying times 
and places. Hence he gives the genealogy of 
Christ, according to his natural descent from 
the virgin Mary,* and carries it up to Adam; 
showing he was that seed of the woman, who 
was promised for the redemption of the whole 
world. 

With regard to the general construction of 
St. Luke^s Gospel, it seems to be formed near- 
ly on the same plan with that of St. Matthew, 
whose very words are sometimes copied.f In- 
deed, as the gentile converts suffered the same 
things from their countrymen, that the Jewish 
christians did from the Jews, it was necessary 
St. Luke should adopt much the same points of 
instruction, both to support the poor perse- 
cuted christians,! and to soften and convert 

• ByJ interposing an easy parenthesis, the pedigree in St. Luke is 
naturally connected with the family o; Mary. "And Jesns hegan to 
be, or was, when he began his minis ry, about thii'ty years of age, 
being, (as was supposed the son of Joseph, but) in reality the so7i of 
Heli, xvho -was the father of JMary.^"^ Kibder. 

t &ee instances referred to above, in page 50; and otliers may be 
seen in Dr Owen, 

% Chap, Yi. 20—23; xii. 4'— 12, 13, &c. xviii. 28—30. 



NEW TESTAMENT- 61 

their malicious adversaries, of whom the Jews 
residing in the several countries, were still the 
chief.* But as the rage and envy of the Jews 
proceeded now from another cause, (for they 
persecuted the gentile christians for laying 
claim to the privileges of the gospel,) we shall 
accordingly find St. Luke^s narrative peculiar- 
ly adapted to remove their prejudices, and ob- 
viate their objections; to soften and enlarge 
their minds, and deter them from their mali- 
cious proceedings.! 

St. Luke wrote in Greek, and (as appears 
from the beginning both of his Gospel and Acts 
of the Apostles,) at the request of a christian 
of distinction, whose name was Theophilus. 
He calls him y.^tirt^e^ or excellent, as we ad- 
dress certain persons with the title of excel- 
lency. The same title in Greek is given in the 
Acts, to the Roman governor, J and was equi- 
valent to the Latin optimus or optimas^ which 
the Romans addressed to their principal sena- 
tors of the most ancient families. A great cri- 
tic^ thinks this was some nobleman, who dwelt 
in Upper Egypt, and that St. Luke^s Gospel 

* Chap. vi. 24—26; x. 12; xiii. 1—5; xix. 14—44. 
+ Vide chap. iv. 25— <27; chap, xx. 9—16; chap. xv. 11 — 32; chap, 
xviii. 7, 8; chap. xiii. 1—5; xxi. 5, &c, chap, xiii, 28 — 30. xiv. 16—24. 
^ C'hap. xxiii. 26^ xxiv. S; xxvi, S, 
§ M. Micliaelis, See his Lectures on the New Testament. 

6 



63 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

was written about A. D. 63^ in that country, 
near Thebes; which he supposes St. Jerom 
mistook for Thebes in Boeotia. He observes 
that the Syriac subscription represents this 
gospel to have been published at Alexandria 
in Egypt; and he imagines many things in it 
were particularly expressed, with a view to 
confute the falsehoods of the Egyptian gospel; 
an erroneous narrative, whence Mahomet is 
believed to have extracted many of those false 
particulars ot our Saviour's history, which he 
Thas inserted in his Alcoran. 

Perhaps St. Luke's Gospel was first written 
in Greece, and republished along with the 
Acts, when he afterwards was in Egypt. Be 
that as it may, the date assigned above is pro- 
bably the true one; at least it appears pretty 
evident, that St. Luke's Gospel was written 
after the year 61, if that be admitted to have 
been the date of St. Matthew's Gospel. 



OF 



THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO 



This Gospel is universally agreed to have 
been written after all the rest^ with a view of 
completing whatever was defficient in them all. 
This evangelist^ independent of his divine in- 
spiration^ must be allowed to have had a most 
perfect knowledge of the facts he relates: and 
as he undoubtedly examined all the other gos- 
pelsj before he wrote, he is an authentic wit- 
ness to their veracity. He was^ according to 
the testimony of the ancients^ of our Saviour's 
near kindred. Before he became acquainted 
with our Lordj he was a disciple of John the 
Baptist, and probable one of those two, whom 
he sent to Christ* Our Saviour honoured 
him with the most intimate confidence^ and 
loved him beyond his other disciples. He 



* John i. 37 — i2. 



64 A KEY TO THE 

and Peter and James were (exclusive of the 
rest) witnesses of the raising Jairus^s daughter^ 
of Christ^s transfiguration^ and of his agony 
in the garden. He was the only apostle who 
stood under the cross^ when Christ was cruci- 
fied. So that he was better qualified than any 
other^ to describe the miracles and history of 
Jesus Christ. A very discerning writer^ thinks 
that St. John, in the life time of his blessed 
Master, wrote down some of the heads of his 
discourses; at least, that his style perfectly 
resembles that of those, who relate the dis- 
courses of another, from short heads taken 
down while they were spoken. 

But we are to consider this gospel not only 
as an historical narrative, but also as a contro- 
versial treatise, designed to confute various 
heresies. For no sooner was the christian 
church established, but its doctrines were ob- 
scured, debased, and corrupted by errors and 
heresies of various kinds: the first heretics as- 
sumed the name of Gnostics, i. e. ^^knowing 
ones,'' pretending to superior light and know- 
ledge. They were afterwards followed by the 
Nicolaitans, whose false tenets were propa- 
gated by Ebion and Cerinthus. These here- 
sies prevailed most in Asia. Wherefore the 

*|Michaelis. See his Lectures on the New Testament. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 65 

Asiatic bishops desired St. John to draw up a 
refutation of them: and he, in compliance with 
their request, composed his gospel, with a view 
to put those heretics ^'•'to shame, and to show 
that there is one God, who by ^Christ,' his 
Word, made all things, and that the Creator 
and Father of our Lord were not, as they pre- 
tended, distinct beings,^ &c/' Wherefore he 
does not relate the birth and parentage of 
Christ, or even those facts of which he, Pe- 
ter, and James, were eye-witnesses, exclusive 
of the other apostles; but he chiefly collects 
such discourses and miracles, as confirm the 
doctrines laid down in the first chapter, which 
were counter-positions to those of Cerinthus 
and other heresies, who maintained the gross- 
est errors concerning Christ. 

Cerinthus is said to have taught, 1. That 
the most high God was entirely unknown be- 
fore the appearance of Christ, and dwelt in a 
remote heaven, called Pleroma, with the chief 
spirits or •Muns.'\ 2. That this supreme God 
first generated an only begotten Son, who 
again begat the Word, which was inferior to 
the first born. 3. That Christ was a still low- 
er •Mon^ though far superior to some others. 
4. That there were two high t^ons distinct 

* Irenseus, contra Hseres, 1. lii, c. 2, 
t See the Introduction. 

6* 



66 A KEY TO THE 

from Christ; one called Life^ and the other 
Light. 5. That from the •Mons again pro- 
ceeded inferior orders of spirits; and particu- 
larly one Demiurgus^ who created this visible 
world out of eternal matter. 6. That this />^- 
miurgus was ignorant of the supreme God, 
and much lower than the JEons^ which were 
wholly invisible. 7. That he was, however, 
the peculiar God and protector of the Israelites, 
and sent Moses to them; whose laws and in- 
junctions were to be of perpetual obligation. 
8 That Jesus was a mere man, the real Son of 
Joseph and Mary. 9. That the %Sion Christ 
descended upon him in the form of a dove, 
when he was baptised; revealed to him the un- 
known Father, andimpowered him to work mi- 
racles. 10. That the tiBow Light entered John 
the Baptist in the same manner; and therefore 
John was in some respects to be preferred to 
Christ. 11. That when Jesus had propagated 
the knowledge of God, and came to suffer, 
Christ left him, and fled to the uppermost hea- 
ven. 12. That Jesus Christ should reign on 
earth a thousand years, and his disciples enjoy 
all sensual delights. — Some of the Cerinthian 
sect denied also the resurrection of the dead; 
and many of them maintained that Jesus Christ 
was not yet risen. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 67 

Now we shall find St. John's Gospel divided 
into three parts. 

The first contains doctrines laid down in op- 
position to those of Cerinthus.* 

The second delivers the proofs of those doc- 
trines in an historical manner.f 

The third is a conclusion or appendix, giv- 
ing an account of the person of the writer^ and 
of the view he had in writing.^ 

In what year this gospel was written, is not 
agreed among the ancients. It should seem 
to have been before the destruction of Jerusa- 
lem, which happened in the year of our Lord 
70, for St. John speaks of that city as still sub- 
sisting: ^^There is at Jerusalem by the sheep- 
market a pool, &c/^§> On the other hand it 
appears, from the gospel itself, to have been 
written after the death of St. Peter, which is 
generally placed in the year 68. For the other 
evangelists, when they relate the cutting off 
the high-priest's servant's ear, conceal the 
name of Peter, lest the Jews should have a le- 
gal pretence to prosecute him, and deliver him 
to the Romans, to be capitally punished; where- 
as St. John mentions him expressly by name.|l 

* Chap. i. 1—18. t Chap. i. 19; xx. 19. 

% Chap. \x. 30, to the end» § Chap, v, 2^ 

I Chap, xyiii^ 10. 



68 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

Nor could St. John probably have interpreted 
the words of Christ, ^^Thou shalt stretch forth 
th\ hands, and another shall gird thee/'^ con- 
cerning the manner of St. Peter's death, if it 
had been written before the crucifixion of that 
apostle: for before that time the words were 
ambiguous. This limits the writing of this 
gospel to the year 69, a year expressly speci- 
fied by an ancient writer. Others give the 
date of it so late as A. D. 97, but this is plainly 
confuted by the above arguments. 

According to every computation, St. John is 
allowed to have closed the whole gospel histo- 
ry, to have ratified and confirmed the former 
gospels, and to have established the evangeli- 
cal canon on the firmest ground and most ve- 
nerable authority. 

* Chap. xxi. 18. 



OF TH£ 



ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 



This forms a central or intermediate book 
to connect the gospels and the epistles. It is 
an useful postscript to the former, and a pro- 
per introduction to the latter. 

This divine history is evidently a second 
part or continuation of St. Luke's Gospel, as 
appears from the very beginning of it: and 
that both were written by the same evangelist, 
is attested by the most ancient christian writers. 
The subscriptions at the end of some Greek 
manuscripts, and of the copies of the Syriac 
version, testify that St. Luke wrote the Acts 
at Alexandria in Egypt. 

As the narrative reaches down to the year 
of Christ 63, the Acts cannot have been writ- 
ten earlier than that year; and that they were 
not written much later, maty be inferred from 
the subject being continued no farther, which 



70 A KEY TO THE 

otherwise it would probably have been: at 
least St. Luke would have been apt to have 
given the issue of St. PauPs imprisonment at 
Rome^ as what the christian reader would 
have been curious to have known* 

Considered as a mere human witness, St. 
Luke was better able than others to draw up 
an authentic history of the Apostles, as he had 
accompanied St. Paul in so many of his jour- 
nies. As he was a physician by profession, 
he was able to form a sound judgment of the 
miracles St. Paul wrought upon the diseased, 
and to make a, credible report of them. But 
he seems not to have had the gift of healing 
himself; for in chapter xxvii. 8, 9, St. Paul, 
and not he, healed the sick. His accounts are 
generally so full and circumstantial, that the 
reader is perfectly enabled to examine the facts 
himself, and to judge whether they were at- 
tended with any deception or not. 

St. Luke appears not to have intended to 
write a complete ecclesiastical history of the 
whole christian church during the first thirty 
years after Christ^s ascension. For he almost 
wholly omits what passed among the Jews 
after the conversion of Paul; though the la- 
bours and suiferings of the other apostles could 
not but have aflbrded interesting materials. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 71 

If we examine the contents of this book, we 
may observe two ends pursued in it. 

First. To give an authentic relation of the 
effusion of the Holy Ghost, and the first mira- 
cles by which the truth of the christian religion 
was established. An authentic account of this 
was indispensably necessary, since Christ had 
so often promised the Holy Ghost to his disci- 
ples: and if a heathen were to receive this 
Gospel, he would naturally inquire, how it had 
been first promulged at Jerusalem. 

Second. To impart those accounts which 
evince the claim of the gentiles to the church 
of Christ: a point particularly contested by the 
Jews about the time of St. Luke^s writing 
the Acts. St. Paul was at that very time a 
prisoner at Rome, upon the accusation of the 
Jews, who became his enemies for having ad- 
mitted the gentiles into the church. 

Hence it is, that St. Luke relates^ the con- 
version of the Samaritans, andf the history of 
Cornelius, who, though he was not of the cir^ 
€umcision, had, in consequence of a divine com- 
mand, been instructed in the gospel by St. 
Peter himself, to whom St. PauPs opponents 
appealed.^ For the same reason he relates, 
chap. XV, what was decreed by the first council 

* Chap. viii. t Chap. x. xi. ^ Gal. ii. 6—21. 



72 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

at Jerusalem concerning the Levitical law; and 
treats most fully of the conversion of St. Paul^ 
and of his mission and transactions among the 
Gentiles, 

The Acts of the Apostles may very properly 
be divided into seven parts^ viz. 

First. The account of the first pentecost 
after Christ's death^ and of the events prece- 
ding it^ contained in chap. i. ii. 

Second. The acts at Jerusalem^ and through- 
out Judea and Samaria^ among the christians 
of the circumcision. Chap. iii. ix. xii. 

Third. The acts in Cesarea^ and the re- 
ceiving of the Gentiles. Chap. xxi. 

Fourth. The first circuit of St. Barnabas^ 
and St. Paul among the gentiles. Chap, 
xiii. xiv. 

Fifth. The embassy to Rome^ and the first 
council at Jerusalem^ wherein the Jews and 
gentiles were admitted to an equality. Cha p. 

XV. 

Sixth. The Second circuit of St. Paul. 
Chap. xvi. xix. 

Seventh. St. PauPs third journey to Rome. 
Chap. xix. 21—28. 



DF THE 



H^l^^m^l 



The sum and substance of the christian re- 
ligion is contained in the history of the life and 
death;, the doctrines and discourses of our 
Lord in the Four Gospels. The epistolary 
writings of the apostles were occasional, being 
intended to confirm the several churches to 
whom they are addressed, in the same rules of 
gospel-faith and practice as they had been be- 
fore instructed in; and accommodated to the 
disputes and controversies, errors and false no- 
tions, that prevailed among them. 

The general method observable in these 
apostolic letters is, first to discuss the particu- 
lar point debated in the church, or among the 
persons, to whom they are addressed, and 
which was the occasion of their being written; 
and in the next place to give such exhortations 
to every christian duty and virtue, as would 
be at all times, and in every church, of neces- 

7 



74 A KEY TO THE 

sary and absolute importance; paying a par- 
ticular regard to those virtues^^ which the dis- 
putes that occasioned the epistle might tempt 
them to neglect. Now the former part of 
these epistolary writings cannot be rightly un- 
derstood^ but by attending carefully to the state 
of the question there determined. Therefore^ 
the errors and vain disputes concerning fiiith 
and works, justification and sanctification, elec- 
tion and reprobation, &c. which have so long 
vexed and distracted the minds of christians, 
have all arisen from one grand mistake of ap- 
plying to themselves or other particular per-* 
sons now, certain phrases or passages which 
plainly referred to the then state and condi- 
tion, not of particular persons, but of whole 
churches, whether Jewish or gentile, of those 
times. Perplexed and puzzled with these 
knotty points, many w^ell meaning christians 
have been drawn aside from paying a due re- 
gard to those moral and weighty exhortations, 
which are most easy to be understood, and of 
infinite obligation to be put in practice.^ 

Of the epistles, fourteen are by St. Paul, 
which are not placed according to the order of 
time in which they were written; but accord- 
ing to the precedent or supposed rank of the 

* Vide Pyle. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 



75 



churches and persons to whom they are ad- 
dressed: it will be proper therefore to exhibit 
here their chronological order^ according to 
two eminent critics. 

The Chronological Order of the Epistles, &c. ac- 
cording to Mr. Michaelis, and some others. 



Epistle to, or bt/, 
1 Peter, 
Galatians, 

1 Thessalonians, 

2 Thessalonians, 

1 Corinthians, 

2 Corinthians, 

1 Timothy, 
Romans, 
James, 
Philemon, 
Colossians, 
Ephesians, 
Philippians^ 
Hebrews, 
Titus, 

2 Peter, 
Jude, 

2 Timothy, 

3 Epistles of John, 

Revelations, 



Places -where xontten. 


A.D, 


Jerusalem, 


49 


Thessalonica, 


51 


Corinth, 


52 


Cori»ith, 


52 


Ephesus, 


57 


Macedonia, 


58 


Macedonia, 


58 


Corinth, end of 58 


uncertain. 


61 



Rome, 

Rome, 

Nicopolis, 

uncertain, 

uncertain, 

Rome, 

uncertain, 

Patmos, 



62 



63 
uncertain. 

67 
uncertain. 

67 

70 

54 

96 



[ 



76 



A KEY TO THE KEW TESTAMENT, 



A Table of St. Paul's Epistles, with the places where, 
and times when written, according to Dr. Lardner. 



Hpistles. 
\ 1 hessalonianSp 
2 Thessalonians, 

Galatians, 

1 Corinthians,, 

1 Timothy, 

Titus, 

2 Corinthians, 
Romans, 
E]}hesians, 

2 Timothy, 

Philipi)ians, 

Colossians, 

Philemon, 

Hebrews, 



Places. 

Corinth, 

Corinth, 

{Corinth, 
or Ephesus, 

Ephesus, 

Macedonia, 
C Macedonia, 
c or near it, 

Macedonia, 

Corinth, 

Rome, 

Rome, 

Rome, 

Rome, 

Rome, 



^. D, 

52 

52 

near end of 52 

beginning of 53 

beginning of .53 

56 

before end of 56 

about October 57 

about February 58 

about April 61 

about May 61 

before the end of 62 

before the end of 62 

before the end of 62 



Rojne, or Italy, in Spring of 63 



A Table of the Catholic Epistles and the Revelation^ 



according to Dr. Lardner. 



Epistle, 


Places, 




^. n 


James, 

The two Epis. of Peter 
1 John, 

2d and 3d of Jol\n, 


Judea, 

, Rome, 
Ephesus, 

Ephesus, 




S 61 
Cor begin, 62 
64 
about 80 
C between 80 
? and 90 


Jude, 
Revelation, 


unknown, 
Patmos, 01 


64 or 65 
Ephesus, 95 or 96 



OF 



THE EPISTLE TO THE 



This celebrated epistle was written by St, 
Paul from Corinth^ when he was setting out 
for Jerusalem^ with the supplies which had 
been collected in Macedonia^ and at Corinth; 
that is^ according to some critics^* in the be- 
ginnings or according to others^ towards the 
end of the year 58; which was the fourth of the 
emperor Nero* 

The christian church at Rome appears not 
to have been planted by any apostle; where- 
fore St, Pauls lest it should be corrupted by 
the Jews, who then swarmed in Rome, and of 
whom many were converted to Christianity, 
sends them an abstract of the principal truths 

* So Dr. Lardner, wlio thinks St. Paul came to Corinth in Novem- 
ber, A. D. 57; and wrote this Epistle in February following. The 
other opinion is thai of Michaelis. Vide Rom. xv. 25 — 27. 

7^ 



78 A KEY TO THE 

of the gospel, and endeavours to guard them 
against those erroneous notions^ which the Jews 
had of justification, and of the election of their 
own nation. 

Now the Jews assigned three grounds for 
justification. First, ^^The extraordinary piety r 
and merits of their ancestors, and the covenant 
made by God with these holy men.'' They 
thought God could not hate the children of such 
meritorious parents; and as he had made a 
covenant with the patriarchs to bless their pos- 
terity, he was obliged thereby to pardon their 
sins. Secondly, "A perfect knowledge and 
diligent study of the law of Moses.'' They 
made this a plea for the remission of all their 
sins and vices. Thirdly, ^^The works of the 
Levitical law," which were to expiate sin, 
especially circumcision and sacrifices. Hence 
they inferred that the gentiles must receive th 
whole law of Moses in order to be justified and 
saved. 

The Jews' doctrine concerning election was, 
*^That as God had promised to Abraham to 
bless his seed, to give him not only spiritual 
blessing, but also the land of Canaan, to suffer 
him to dwell there in prosperity, and to con- 
sider him as his church upon earth:'^ that 
therefore this blessing extended to their whole 



NEW TF.«5TA\fENT. 79 

nation^ and that God was bo'ind to fulfil these 
promises to them^ whether they were righteous 
or wicked, faithful or unbelieving. They even 
believed that a prophet ought not to pronounce 
against their nation the prophecies with which 
he was inspired; but was rather to beg of God 
to expunge his name out of the book of the 
living. 

These previous remarks will serve as a key 
to unlock this difficult epistle, of which we shall 
now give a short analysis.* 

First. The epistle begins with the usual salu- 
tation, with which the Greeks began their 
letters. t 

Second. St. Paul professes his joy at the 
flourishing state of the church at Rome, and 
his desire to come and preach the gospel. J 
Then he insensibly introduces the capital point 
he intended to prove, viz. 

Third. The subject of the gospel, §> that it 
reveals a righteousness unknown before, which 
is derived solely from faith, and to which Jews 
and gentiles have an equal claim. 

Fourth. In order to prove this, he shews|| 
that both Jews and Gentiles are ^^under sin^^^ 

* See Michaelis. t Chap. i. 1—7. 

^ Ver. 8—i9. § Ver. 16, 17, 

1 Chap. 1. 18. iii. 20, 



80 A KEY TO THE 

i. e. that God will impute their sins to Jews as 
well as gentiles. 

His arguments may be reduced to these syl- 
logisms.^ ^^The wrath of God is revealed 
against those^ who hold the truth in unright- 
eousness: i. e. who acknowledge the truth^ and 
yet sin against it. 

^^The gentiles acknowledged truths; but 
partly by their idolatry, and partly by their 
other detestable vices, they sinned against the 
truth they acknowledged. 

^^Therefore the wrath of God is revealed 
against the gentiles, and punisheth them. 

^^The Jews have acknowledged more truths 
than the gentiles, and yet they sin. 

^^^Consequently, the Jewish sinners are yet 
more exposed to the wrath of God.^^f 

Having thus proved this point, he answers 
certain objections to it. 

Objection 1. ^^The Jews were w^ell grounded 
in their knowledge, and studied the law.^^ 
He answers, if the knowledge of the law, with- 
out observing it, could justify them, then God 
could* not have condemned the gentiles, who 
knew the law by nature. J 

Objection 2. ^^The Jews were circumcised.^^ 
Answer. That is, ye are admitted by an out- 

* Chap, ii. 1, 17—24. t Chap. ii. 1—12. i <;hap. ii. 13—1^. 



NEW TESTAMKNT. 81 

ward sign into the covenant with God. This 
sign will not avail you^ when ye violate that 
covenant.* 

Objection 3. ^^According to this doctrine of 
St. Paul^ the Jews have no advantage before 
others.'^ Answer. Yes., they still have ad- 
vantages; for unto them are committed the 
oracles of God. But their privileges do not 
extend to this, that God should overlook their 
sins^ which^ on the contrary^ Scripture con- 
demns even in the Jews.f 

Objection 4. "They had the Levitical law 
and sacrifices.^^ Answer. From hence is no 
remission^ but only the knowledge of sin. J 

Fifth. From all this St. Paul concludes^ that 
Jews and gentiles may be justified by the same 
means; namely, without the Levitical law, 
through faith in Christ: and in opposition to 
the imaginary advantages of the Jews, he states 
the declaration of Zechariah, that God is the 
God as well of the gentiles, as of the Jews.§ 

Sixth. As the whole blessing was promised 
to the faithful descendants of Abraham, whom 
both Scripture and the Jews call his children, 
he proves his former assertion from the example 
of Abraham, who was an idolater before his 

* Chap. ii. 25— end. t Chap. iii. 1—19, 

I Chap. iii. 30. § Chap. iii. 31, 



82 A KEY TO THE 

call^ but was declared just by God^, on account 
of his faith^ long before his circumcision. 
Hence^ he takes occasion to explain the nature 
and fruits of faith. ^ 

Seventh. He goes on to prove from God^s 
justice^ that the Jews had no advantages over 
the gentiles^ with respect to justification. 
Both Jews and gentiles had forfeited life and 
immortality^ by the means of one common fa- 
ther of their race^, whom they themselves had 
not chosen. Now as God was willing to res- 
tore immortality by a new spiritual head of a 
covenant^ viz: Christy it was just that both 
Jews and gentiles sl.ould share in this new rep- 
resentative of the whole race.f-^Chap. v. ver. 
15, 16, amount to this negative question, ^*Is 
it not fitting that the free gift should extend as 
far as the offence?^^ 

Eighth. He shews, that the doctrine of jus- 
tification, as stated by him, lays us under the 
strongest obligations of holiness.J 

Ninth. He shews, that the l^w of Moses no 
longer concerns us at all; for our justification 
arises from our appearing in God^s sight, as if 
actually dead with Christ, on account of our 
sins; but the law of Moses was not given to 
the dead. On this occasion he proves at large^ 

* Chap, iv, 1; V. 11. t Chap. v. 12. ^ Chap, vi. 1— end. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 83 

that the eternal power of God over us is not 
affected by this, and that whilst we are under 
the law of Moses^ we perpetually become sub- 
ject to death, even by sins of inadvertency.* 

Tenth. Hence he concludes, that all those, 
and those only, who are united with Christ, 
and for the sake of his union do not live ac- 
cording to the flesh, are free from all condem- 
nation of the law, and have an undoubted share 
in eternal life.f 

Eleventh. Having described their blessed- 
ness, he is aware, that the Jews, who expected 
a temporal happiness, would object to him, that 
christians notwithstanding endure much suf- 
fering in this w^orld. He answers this objec- 
tion at large. J 

Twelfth. He shews that God is not the less 
true and faithful, because he doth not justify, 
but rather rejects and punishes those Jews who 
would not believe the Messiah.^ In discussing 
this point, we may observe the cautious man- 
ner in which, on account of the Jewish preju- 
dices, he introduces it,|| as well as in the dis- 
cussion itself. 

He shevvs that the promises of God were 
never made to all the posterity of Abraham; 

* Chap, yii, 1 — end. f Chap, viii. I — 17. 

:j: Chap. viii. 18 — end. § Chap. ix. x. xi. 

\\ Cliap. ix. 1 — 5. 



84 A KEY TO THE 

and that God always reserved to himself the 
power of choosing those sons of Abraham, 
whom for Abraham's sake, he intended to bless, 
and of punishing the wicked sons of Abraham; 
and that with respect to temporal happiness or 
misery, he was not even determined in his 
choice by their w^orks. Thus he rejected Ish- 
mael, Esau, the Israelites in the desart, in the 
time of Moses, and the greater part of that 
people in the time of Isaiah, making them a 
sacrifice to liis justice.* 

He then proceeds to shew, that God had 
reason to reject most of the Jew^s then living, 
because they would not believe in the Messiah, 
though the gospel had been preached to them 
plainly enough.f However, that God had not 
rejected all his people, but was still fulfilling 
his promise upon many thousand natural de- 
scendants of Abraham, who believed in the 
Messiah; and would, in a future period, fulfil 
them upon more; for that all Israel would be 
converted.^ And he concludes with admiring 
the wise counsels of God.^ 

Thirteenth. From the doctrine hitherto laid 
dow n, and particularly from this, that God has 
in mercy accepted the gentiles; he argues that 

* Chap. ix. 6 — 129. f Chap. ix. 30j x. end. 

^ Chap. xL I — 32. § Ver. 33 — eiid. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 83 

the Romans should consecrate and offer them- 
selves up wholly to God. This leads him 
to mention in particular some christian du- 
ties^* viz. 

Fourteenth. He exhorts them to be subject 
to magistrates;! the Jews at that time being 
given to sedition. 

Fifteenth. To love one another heartily.J 
And, 

Sixteenth. To abstain from those vices^ 
which were considered as things indifferent 
among the gentiles.^. 

Seventeenth. He exhorts the Jews and gen- 
tiles in the christian church to brotherly 
unity. II 

Eighteenth. He concludes his epistle with 
an excuse for having ventured to admonish the 
Romans^ whom he had not converted; with an 
account of his journey to Jerusalem; and with 
some salutations to those persons^ whom he 
meant to recommend to the church at Rome.*^ 

* Chap. xii. t Chap. xiii. 1 — 7, 

\ Ver. S— 10. § Ver. 11— end. 

ii Chap, xiv, 1; XV. 13, ** Vide Michaelis. 

8 



OF THE 

FIRST EPISTLE 



TO THE 



(©(©mair^MiAir^^ 



Corinth was a wealthy and luxurious city^ 
situated in Achaia^ upon the isthmus or neck 
of land which joins Morea to the rest of Greece. 
Near it were celebrated those Isthmian games, 
to which St. Paul alludes in this epistle. In 
this city St. Paul had spent two years^ planting 
a christian churchy which consisted, like most 
of the others, of a mixture of Jewish and chris- 
tian converts. But having been absent from 
them about three years, they were overrun 
with great disorders, and split into various 
sects and factions. 

This occasioned the following epistle, which 
was written by St. Paul^ just before his depar- 
ture from Ephesusj^ about Easter,t in the year 

* Aets XX. 31. 1 Cvr. xvi. 8, 9. 

t So Michaelis infers from chap, v, 7, 8. *'Ye are unleavened," 
which he interprets, "Ye are now keeping the feast of unleavened 
bread." * 

Dr. l.ardner dales ihis e]/istle a }ear sooner. 



A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 87 

of Christ fifty-seven, in the third of the empe- 
ror Nero. It was intended partly to correct 
some corruptions and abuses among the Corin- 
thians^ and partly to answer certain queries 
they had proposed to him. 

In his introduction,^ he expresses his satis- 
faction at all the good he knew of them, par- 
ticularly of their having the gift of the Holy 
Ghost for the confirmation of the gospel. 

And firsts he corrects their corruptions and 
abuses. 

First. He rebukes the sectaries among them^ 
and defends himself against one or more false 
teachers, who had alienated most of the Corin- 
thians from him.f 

Second. He considers the case of a notorious 
offender, who had married his father^s wife^ 
i. e, his own step-mother: orders them to ex- 
communicate this person, and to acknowledge 
no public fornicator as a brother. J 

Third. He reproves them for their covetous 
and litigious temper^ which caused them to 
prosecute their christian brethren before hea- 
then courts of judicature.^ 

Fourth. He cautions them against fornica- 
tion^ a vice to which they had been extremely 

* Chap, i. 1 — 9. t Chap, i. x. iv. — eml, 

t Chap, V, 1.3. § Chap. vi. 1—9. 



88 A KEY TO THE 

addicted before they were converted^ and 
which some of them still reckoned among the 
things indifferent, or which might be practised 
or let alone without breach of morality.^ 

In the next place, he answers certain que- 
ries they had proposed. 

And, first, he determines some questions re- 
lating to the marriage-state.f 

Second. He instructs them how to act with 
respect to idol-offerings. J It could not be 
unlawful in itself to eat the meat which had 
been offered to idols; for the consecration of 
flesh or wine to an idol did not make it the 
property of the idol, an idol being nothing, and 
therefore incapable of property. §> But some 
Corinthians thought it lawful to go to a feast 
in the idol- temples, which at the same time 
were places of resort for lewdness; and to eat 
the sacrifices whilst praises w^ere sung to the 
idol. II This was publicly joining in the idola- 
try. — He even advises to abstain from such 
participation as was lawful, rather than give 
offence to a weak brother; which he enforced 
by his own example, who had abstained from 
many lawful things, rather than create offence 
to the gospel. 

* Chap. vi. 10— end. f Chap. vii. 1 — end. 

I Chap. viii. 1; xi. 1. § Chap, x, 25—30. 

jl Chap. viii. lOj x. 20—2^. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 89 

Third, He answers a third query^ concern- 
ing the manner in which women should deliver 
any thing in public, when called to it by a di- 
vine impulse.* And here he censures the unu- 
sual dress of both sexes in prophesying, which 
exposed them to the contempt of the Greeks, 
among whom the men usually went uncovered, 
and the women veiled. 

He also takes occasion here to censure the 
irregularities committed at their love-feasts, 
&c. and in the exercise of the extraordinary 
gifts of the Holy Ghost, fecf 

Fourth. He asserts the resurrection of the 
dead; which some among the Corinthians 
doubted, and others denied. { 

He then concludes with some directions to 
the Corinthian church concerning the manner 
of collecting alms; promises them a visit; and 
salutes some of the members.^ 

* Chap, xi.2 — 17; ver. 18—34. t Chap. xii. xiii. xiv, 

t Chap. xv» § Chap. xvi. V^ide Miohaelfs* 

8* 



OF THE 

SECOND EPISTLE 



TO THE 



^(^miinFiiiAir 



St. Paulas first epistle had wrought dif- 
ferent effects among the Corinthians: many of 
them entered into themselves: they excommuni- 
cated the incestuous man; requested St. Paul's 
return with tears, and vindicated him and his 
ofiice against the false teacher and his adhe- 
rents. Others of them still adhered to that 
adversary of St. Paul, expressly denied his 
apostolic office, and even furnished themselves 
with pretended arguments from that epistle. 
He had ibrmerly promised to take a journey 
from Ephesus to Corinth, thence to visit the 
Macedonians, and return from them to Co- 
rinth.* But the unhappy state of the Corin- 
thian church, made him alter his intention,! 
since he found he must have treated them with 
severity. Hence his adversaries partly argued; 

* 2 Cor. i. 15, 16, t Ver. 23. 



NEW TEST\MKNT. 91 

first, that St. Paul was irresolute and unsteady: 
and therefore could not be a prophet: secondly^ 
the improbability of his ever coming to Co- 
rinth again, since he was afraid of thenn. 

Such was the state of the Corinthian church 
when St. Paul^ after his departure from Ephe- 
susj having visited Macedonia,* received an 
account of the above particulars from Titus^f 
and therefore wrote them his second epistle 
about the end of the same year^| or the begin- 
ning of 58. 

The contents of this epistle are these: 

First. He gives the Corinthians an account 
of his sufferings to that time^ and of the com- 
fort he derived from meditating on the resur* 
rection.§) 

Second. He vindicates himself against those 
who would not consider him as a true apostle^ 
because he had altered his resolutions. || 

Third. He forgives the incestuous man;** 
and tells the Corinthians how much he longed 

for their amendment.ft 

Fourth. He treats of the office committed to 
him^ of preaching the redemption; and highly 

* Acts XX, i. t 2 Cor. viii. 5, 6, 

r I So Dr. Lardner, who dates it from Macedonia about September 

or October, 57, ^ 

§ Chap, i, 1— II. II Chap. i. 12; ii, 4. 

** Chap. ii. 5—11. U Ver. 12, 13. 



()2 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

prefers it to preaching the law; to which pro- 
bably his adversaries had made great pre- 
tences. They had ridiculed his sufferings; 
which he shews to be no disgrace to the gospel 
or its ministers: and here he gives a short ab- 
stract of the doctrine he preaches.^ 

Fifth. He shows it to be his office^ not only 
to preach the redemption by Christ, but to in- 
culcate certain duties, and particularly that of 
flying from idolatry, (an oblique censure of 
those who attended the idol feasts.f) 

Sixth. He endeavours once more to win 
their confidence, by telling them how affection- 
ately he was disposed towards them, and re- 
joiced at their amendment.f 

Seventh. He exhorts them tc a liberal col- 
lection for the christians in Judea.§ 

Eighth. He vindicates himself against those 
who thought him deficient in the evidences of 
his apostleship, and imputed his caution, when 
at Corinth, to his consciousness of not being 
a true apostle. || 

* Chap. ii. 14; v. — end. t Chap. vi. 

^ Chap vii. 1 — 16. § Chap. viii. Ijix. 15. 

11 Chap. X. to the end. Vide Michaelis. 



OF 

THE EPISTLE 



TO THE 



A^AW^Am^^ 



The Galatians were descended from those 
Gauls, who had formerly invaded Greece, and 
afterwards settled in Lower Asia. St. Paul 
had preached the gospel among them in the 
year 51, soon after the council held at Jerusa- 
lem.^ Asia swarmed at that time with zealots 
for the law of Moses, who w^anted to impose it 
upon the gentiles. f Soon after St. Paul had 
left the Galatians, these false teachers had got 
among them^ and wanted them to be circum- 
cised^ &c. This occasioned the following epis- 
tle, which an eminent criticj thinks was writ- 
ten in the same year, before St. Paul left Thes- 
salonica; though others^ date it about the end 
of the year 52, or in the very beginning of 53^ 
before St. Paul set out to go to Jerusalem by 
way of Ephesus. 

• Acts xvi. 6. t Acts xv. 1. 

j: Michaelis* § Dr. Lardner, &c*' 



94 A KEY TO THE 

The subject of this epistle is much the same 
with that of the epistle to the Romans; only 
this question is more particularly considered 
here^ ^^whether circumcision^ and the full ob- 
servance of the Levitical law^ were necessary 
for the salvation of a christian convert? ^^ 

It seems these Judaizing christians^ whose 
indirect views St. Paul exposes,^ at first only 
laboured to represent circumcision as necessa- 
ry to salvation^ without obliging the gentiles 
to observe the whole Levitical iaw;t y^t they 
insisted upon the christians receiving the Jew- 
ish festivals and sabbatical years.J 
Their principal arguments were, 
First. ^^That the apostles at Jerusalem, St. 
Peter in particular, and the whole church at 
Jerusalem, considered circumcision as neces- 
sary; that St. Paul was only a deputy from 
that church, and his doctrine only to be re- 
garded so far as it agreed with that of the 
church of Jerusalem. ^^ This obliged St. Paul 
to declare, not only that the apostles at Jeru- 
salem perfectly concurred with him, but also 
that he was an immediate apostle of Christ. 
Second. ^^That St. Paul himself had changed 

* Chap. vi. 12, 15. i Acts xa. 1 ; C i\l v 3, 

t Chap. iv. 10. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 95 

his opinion, and now preached up the Leviti- 
eai law/^^ They urged perhaps that he had 
caused Timothy to be circumcised just before 
he came to them. f 

Third, ^^That all the promises of God were 
made to the sons of Abraham; and that who- 
ever would partake of Abraham's blessing, 
must, like him, be circumcised.^^ This objec- 
tion he fully answers. J 

Fourth. ^^That Isaiah foretold an approach- 
ing conversion of the heathens, and promised 
children from among them to Sion, or Jerusa- 
lem; and therefore, if the gentiles desired to 
be children of the church of Jerusalem, they 
ought to conform to the rites of that church/^ 
In answer to this, the apostle shows, that these 
children were not promised to the Jewish, but 
to the ancient or Jebusite Jerusalem. §. 

St. Paul frequently directs christians to bear 
with the weakness of those Jewish converts who 
observed the Levitical law.|| But the Gala- 
tian church consisted of gentiles; and the whole 
import of this epistle is, that they should not be 
circumcised. 

* Gal. i. 8, 10. V, 11. t Acts xvi. 3; Gal. ii. 3. 

^ Gal. iii. 7; iv. 18. 

§ Chap. iv. 19 — 31. The wordsj ver. 25, "Sinai is a mount iJi 
Arabia," are thought to be a gsoss crept into the text. 
jl Rom. xiv. Acts xxi. 23, 24. 26. 



96 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

In the two last chapters are some practical 
exhortations^ designed chiefly against the ani- 
mosities and partialities^ which these disputes 
had bred among them 



OF 

THE EPISTLE 



TO THE 



m^n^OT^ir 



'<^ 



EpHESus was the chief city of all Asia on 
this side Mount Taurus* St. Paul had passed 
through it in the year 54, but without making 
any stay.* The following year he returned to 
Ephesus again^ and stayed there three years. f 
During his abode there^ he completed a very 
flourishing chnrch of christians; the first foun- 
dations of which had been laid by some inferior 
teachers. As Ephesus was frequented by per- 
sons of distinction from all parts of Asia-minor^ 
St. Paul took the opportunity of preaching in 
the ancient countries;^ and the other churches 
of Asia were considered as the daughters of the 
church of Ephesus; so that an epistle to the 
Ephesians was, in effect^ an epistle to the other 
churches of Asia at the same time. 



^ Acts xviii. 19—21. f Chap. xix. i Ver. 10. 

8 



98 A KEY TO THE 

In the year 61^ St. Paul was carried prisoner 
to Rome for the first time; and during his con- 
finement there^ which was not very close^* he 
wrote the epistles to Philemon, the Colossians, 
the Ephesians^ and Philippians. 

Hence all these epistles bear so great a re- 
semblance in their style and manner. Of these 
four^ a learned writerf thinks the epistle to the 
Ephesians was first written by the apostle in 
the spring, A. D. 61, as soon as conveniently 
could be, after his friends at Rome had taken a 
lodging for him, and he was settled in it. 
' This epistle was intended to establish the 
Ephesians in the faith; and to this end, to give 
them more exalted views of the love of God, and 
of the excellence and dignity of Christ: to shew 
them they were saved by grace, and that the 
Gentiles (however wretched they had been 
once) had now equal privileges with the Jews: 
to encourage them, by declaring with what 
steadiness he (St. Paul; suffered for the truth, 
and with what earnestness he prayed for their 
establishment and perseverance in it; and 
finally to engage them to the practice of those 
duties, which became them as christians. J 

* Acts xxviii. 31, SC t Dr. Lardiier. 

:|: Vide Uoddridi-e. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 99 

The city of Ephesus was distinguished by 
peculiar vices and sins^ which are alluded to 
in this epistle^ and in those to Timothy. 

First. It was the genuine seat of the idol- 
atrous worship of Diana, who was called 
SHTEiPA, or the Saviour Goddess: in opposi- 
tion to which St. Paul calls the true Deity 
SHTHP, or the Saviour God, in his Epistle to 
Timothy.^ 

Second. The Ephesians were remarkable 
for the practice of superstitious arts.f 

Third. They were vain in their dress. J 

Fourth. They were remarkable for lewd- 
ness and drunkenness^ and gloried in obscenity 
of language. §> 

An eminent critic|| thinks the christians of 
Ephesus were also tainted with the errors of 
the Essenes; an account of which the reader 
will find below in the introduction to the First 
Epistle to Timothy. 

* 1 Tim. i. I, ii 3. t Acts xix. 18, 19. 

^ See 1 Tim. ii. 9, 10. § Eph. chap. v. 

1} M. Michaelis. See his Lecture^ on the New Testament. 



THE EPISTLE 



TO THE 



^Mimi^l>aASii 



<^ 



pHiLiPPi was a city of no great extent, 
in Macedonia, near the borders of Thrace. 
The christian religion was first planted there 
about the year 51, by St. Paul,* who left St. 
Luke and Timothy to carry on the work. He 
afterwards paid them a second visit,t and, it is 
probable, saw them afterwards a third time. 

This epistle was sent at the same time with 
the preceding, viz. A. D. 62 or 63. The de- 
sign of it seems to be, to comfort the Phillp- 
pians under the concern they had expressed 
for his imprisonment at Rome; to check a 
party spirit that had crept in among them; 
and to promote on the contrary, an entire 
union and harmony of affection; to guard them 
against being seduced from the purity of the 

* Acts xvi, t Acts xxi. 6. 



A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 



101 



Christian faith by judaizing teachers: to sup- 
port them under the trials with which they 
struggled; and^ above all^ to inspire them with 
a concern to adorn their holy profession by the 
most eminent attainments in the divine life,^ 

* Vide Doddridge. 



9* 



) 



OP 

THE EPISTLE 



TO THE 



CoLOSSE, (or^ as it was anciently written^ 
ColasssB) was a considerable city of Phrygia in 
Asia-minor. St. Paul himself had not been at 
this city when he wrote this epistle^^ though 
he had some years before travelled through 
Phrygia. However, Epaphras had founded a 
christian church at Colosse, and probably in 
the neighbouring cities of Laodicea and Hiera- 
polis.f It is probable that some Colossians, 
who had heard St. Paul preach at Ephesus^ 
might be converted by him; and among them 
Philemon, to whom St. Paul addressed his 
epistle so entitled. 

Now the churches of Colosse, Laodicea, and 
Hierapolis, were exposed to more imminent 
danger of being seduced by false teachers, as 

* Col. u, t. t Col. i. 7, iv. 12, 13. | Acts xix. 10. 



A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 103 

they had not received the gospel immediately 
from an apostle^ but from Epaphras; and as 
they might question/ whether Epaphras did 
not err in some respects; this occasioned St.r 
PauPs anxiety for them^^ and induced him ta 
confirm the doctrine of Epaphras by this epis- 
tle,! which was written from Rome about the 
same time with the preceding, A. D. &2 or 63. 
A learned writer| thinks this and the epistle 
to Philemon were sent away together by Ty- 
chicus and Onesimus, although that to Phile- 
mon was probably first delivered. 

The more immediate occasion of writing to 
the Colossians, was an epistle St. Paul had 
received from the Laodiceans/§ which an emi- 
nent criticll thinks contained some written que- 
ries relating to the doctrines of the Essenes, 
and this epistle was intended to answer them. 
What those doctrines were, see in the introduc- 
tion to the First Epistle to Timothy. 

This epistle to the Colossians is so like that 
to the Ephesians, both in language and con- 
tents, that the one will greatly illustrate the 
other. 

* Col. ii. 1. t Col. i. 7. iv. 12, 13. 

^ Laidner. See also Michaelis. 

§ Chap, iv, 16. J Michael i».* 



OF 

THE FIRST EPISTLE 



TO THB 



% 



Thessalontca was in St. PauPs time the 
capital of Macedonia. St. Paul had preached 
the gospel there in the year 51:^ some few 
among the Jews received the gospel; but a 
great multitude of those heathens, who con- 
fessed one only true Godf, became converts to 
Christ. Hence the majority of the church 
consisted of native heathens, who had formerly 
been idolaters.^ The Jews, ever jealous of the 
admission of the gentiles to the same privileges 
with themselves, raised such a disturbance, 
that St. Paul, with Silas, was obliged suddenly 
to withdraw: they even pursued him to Berea. 
He left Silas and Timothy there, and fled to 
Athens, ordering them to follow him.^ Timo- 
thy did not long continue there with St. Paul, 

* Acts xvii. t ^eQifJL^evot 'EAA;jVf ^# • 

i 1 Thess, i. 9«. % Acts xvii, 14, 15, 



A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 105 

but was sent back to Thessalonica^* and when: 
he returned^ found St. Paul at Corinth; where 
he resided a year and a half;! and in the for- 
mer part of that time this epistle was probably- 
written, viz. about A. D. 52. 

With regard to the state of the church of 
Thessalonica, the knowledge of which is requi- 
site to understand these two epistles. 

First. It consisted chiefly of gentiles, and of 
some Jewish members. It is propable that the 
teachers mentioned in the fifth chapter, f were 
converts from Judaism; at least such Greeks as 
had before been proselytes to the Jewish reli- 
gion. 

Second. This church being still in its infan- 
cy, and oppressed by the powerful Jews, re- 
quired to be established in the faith. St. Paul 
therefore in the three first chapters endeavours 
to convince the Thessalonians of the truth and 
divinity of his gospel, both by the miraculous 
gifts of the Holy Ghost, which had been im- 
parted; and by his own conduct when among 
them. 

Third. An error prevailed with respect to 
the doctrine of the last judgment. The Thes- 

* 1 Thess, iii. 1.2. ^ 

t St. Paul came there before the end of the year 51 , and staid till 
the beginning of 53, Lardner. 
i Ver. 12. 



106 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

saloniansj like most of the primitive christians^ 
thought the day of judgment would happen in 
their time. They imagined those^ who lived 
to see it take place^, would have great advan- 
tage over the deceased faithful, which was pro- 
bably to consist on their entering immediately 
on the millenium. This error he combats in 
the fourth chapter. 

Fourth. Some of this church who refused to 
subject themselves to the teachers, had at the 
same time given themselves up to disorder; and 
they seem to have carried on this unruliness, 
under a pretence of teaching or feditying 
others: on this account, the apostle gives the 
admonitions in the fifth chapter.^ 

* Ver. ll-U. 



OF THE 

SECOND EPISTLE 



TO THE 



^^a^^Am^ifi^ir^^ 



^HE second epistle to the Thessalonians 
was sent from Corinth, soon after the first, viz. 
A. D. 52. St. Paul found the Thessalonians 
still considered the day of judgment as at hand; 
and that the disorders before reproved were 
still carried on among them. He therefore in 
this second epistle shews, that the last day 
was still distant, from some prophecies not yet 
fulfilled; and gives them more particular di- 
rections, how to conduct themselves towards 
those disorderly persons. 

M. Michaelis thinks that 2 Thess. ii. 2. re- 
fers to some epistles forged in St. PauFs name 
to propagate the above error; and to certain 
calculations and false prophecies applied to the 
§ame purpose. 



OF 

THE FIRST EPISTLE 

TO 



^i:m^m^MT^ 



^ 



We have an account of Timothy in the 
Acts of the Apostles,^ and in other parts of the 
New Testament^! from which he appears to 
have been a youth of most excellent qualities^ 
and almost constantly the companion of St» 
Paul. 

This first epistle to him, is by some dated^ 
A. D. 65; but by others on better grounds, J 
about A. D. 56, 58, at the time of St. Paiirs 
journey into Macedonia. § This apostle being 
obliged to retire from Ephesus earlier than he 

* Acts xv5. 1 — 3. 

t 2 Tim. i. 5. Acts xvi. 2 Tim. Hi. 10, 11, 1 Tim, iv, 14. 2 Tim. 
i, 6. 1 Tim, iv, 12. Heb. xiii. '23. See also the address to 2 Cor. 
Philipp. Coloss. 1 and 2Thess. Philem. 

\ bee Michaeiis, Lardner. llie place where this epistle was 
■written is not certainly agreed; though it is likely St. Paul was either 
in Macedonia, or near it. 

§ Acts XX. 1. 



A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 109 

intended^ on account of the insurrection raised 
by Demetrius,^ left Timothy behind him to 
restore perfect order in the church, to fill 
the ecclesiastical offices, and to withstand false 
teachers. 

As some of the Ephesians would not obey 
him, and others attempted to force themselves 
upon him as bishops and ministers, St. Paul 
wrote this epistle, which he might lay before 
them as his commission; so that it is rather to 
the Ephesians, than to Timothy. f 

An eminent critic J thinks this first epistle to 
Timothy, and those to the Ephesians and 
Colossians, were levied against certain errors 
prevalent among them, which the Essenes (a 
Jewish sect) had borrowed from oriental phi- 
losophers: they held, first, that God was sur- 
rounded by demons or angels, who were medi- 
ators with God, and therefore to be worship- 
ped. Second, that the soul is defiled by the 
body; that all bodily enjoyments hurt the soul; 
whii^h they believed to be immortal, though 
they seem to have denied the resurrection of 
the body, as it would only render the soul sin- 
ful, by being re-united to it. Third, that there 
was a great mystery in numbers, particularly 

* Acts xix. t See 1 Tim. iii. 18; iv. 6. 12, 13; v. 25. 

4 M. Michael is. 

10 



110 A KEY TO THE 

in the number seven; they therefore attributed 
a natural holiness to the seventh or sabbath 
day, which they observed more strictly than 
the other Jews. They spent their time most- 
ly in contemplation; abstained from marriage, 
and every gratification of the senses; used 
washings, and thought it sinful to touch certain 
things; regarded wine as poison, &c. 

In opposition to these, St. Paul, in these 
three epistles, shows the superiority of Christ 
to the angels, and warns christians against 
worshipping them. He censures the observa- 
tion of Sabbaths; rebukes those who forbade 
marriage, and the touching of certain things; 
and who delivered commandments of men con- 
cerning meats, and prohibited them. He per- 
mits Timothy to drink wine; blames those who 
abstain from nourishing their bodies; and en- 
joins bodily exercise. He cautions against a 
philosophy, which teaches all these things; and 
against persons, who assume a great appear- 
ance of wisdom and virtue. He delivers Hy- 
menseus over to Satan, because he pretended 
there was no resurrection of the flesh. 

The same learned writer thinks the errors 
of the Essenes had found their way into these 
churches through Apollos,^ who was of Alex- 

* Acts xvii. 24; xix. 1 — 7. 



NEW TESTAMENT. Ill 

andria, in the neighbourhood of which the 
Essenes prevailed; and also through the twelve 
christians mentioned in Acts xix.* who ap- 
pear but imperfectly acquainted with the 
christian doctrines. He conjectures that ^^the 
vagabond Jews^ exorcists^^^f were of this sect-. 

* Ver. 1—7. t Ver. 13. 



OF 

THE SECOND EPISTLE 



TO 



^im^^um 



This epistle^ according to some critics,^ 
was written by St. Paul;, at Rome^ during his 
first imprisonment there^ and was sent to 
Timothy in the summer of the year 61, But 
othersf rather think it was written during the 
apostle^s last imprisonment there^ not very 
long before he sealed the truth with his blood; 
which is commonly placed about A. D. 66 
or 67. 

That Timothy was at Ephesus, or in Lesser 
Asia^ when this epistle was sent to him^ ap- 
pears from tlie frequent mention in it of per- 
sons residing at Ephesus. The false teachers^ 
who had before thrown this church into confu- 
sion^ grew every day worse: insomuch that 
not only Hymenseus^ but Philetus^ another 
Ephesian heretic^ now denied the resurrection 

* So Dr. Lardner. t S© M, Michaelis, and others. 



A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 113 

of the dead. They were led into this error by 
a dispute about words. At first they only an- 
nexed various improper significations to the 
word resurrection^ till at last they denied the 
thing; pretending that the resurrection of the 
dead was only a resurrection from the death of 
sin^ and so was already past. This error was 
probably derived from the eastern philosophy, 
which placed the origin of sin in the body. 
This epistle consists chiefly of affectionate ad- 
vices to Timothy^ thenceforward to be active 
in opposing those false teachers, and in propa- 
gating the gospel. 



10^ 



OF 

THE EPISTLE TO 



This may be called an Epistle to the Cre- 
tans. For St. Paul meant not so much to in- 
struct Titus, as to furnish him with a rule to 
lay before the Cretans, to which he might ap- 
peal, whenever unworthy and unqualified per- 
sons attempted to obtrude themselves into the 
episcopal office. 

Titus was a Greek,^ and probably owed his 
conversion to St. Paul;-]' who fourteen years 
after, took him with him to Jerusalem, to the 
great council held there in the year 69. And 
as Titus was of gentile parents St. Paul would 
not suffer him to be circumcised, that he might 
not abridge the liberty of the gentile converts. J 
Some years after, St. Paul dispatched him to 
Corinth, to bring him an account of the state of 
that church; § and afterwards sent him thither 

» GaUii. 3, t Tit. i. 4. 

4 Gal. ii. i— a, f 2 Cor. xii. 18: vii. 6. 1^. 



A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 115 

again^ to hasten the collection for the poor 
christians in Judea.^ After this we hear no 
more of him^, till he is mentioned in this epistle 
as having been with St. Paul in Crete. 

This epistle, according to Dr. Lardner^ was 
written towards the end of the year 56, while 
St. Paul was in Macedonia, or near it. But 
M. Michaelis and others think it was more 
probably written in St. PauPs last progress 
through the Asiatic churches, between his first 
and second imprisonment at Rome, though the 
precise year they are not able to determine. 
Titus had been left at Crete, to settle the 
church which St. Paul had probably establish- 
ed there in his first journey to Rome,f and 
afterward.^ The churches in Crete had not 
hitherto had any bishops and ministers: Titus 
was to appoint them: but he was to be upon 
his guard against some of the circumcision^ who 
aspired to ecclesiastical offices. 

The island of Crete was the parent of Ro- 
man and Greek idolatry; and Cretans so far 
excelled other nations in inventing gods, that 
they were called the liavH. They were also 
distinguished for unnatural vices and a spirit of 
sedition. 

The Cretan converts to Christianity were 
indeed obliged to forsake idolatry and the wor- 

^ Chap, y'iiu 6, f Acts xxvii. «. ^ Tit. i. 4, 



116 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

ship of images: but as the Cretans were Eocyp- 
tians by descent, and had long intermixed the 
whims of Egyptian philosophy with Judaism^ 
and as they had embraced Christianity very 
early J no church was in greater danger of 
adopting the absurd and heathen genealogies 
of God, of his only begotten Son, and of the 
jEons, Hence St. Paul warns them against 
these errors.^ 

* Tit. I. 14; iii, 9. Vide Michaelist 



OK' 

THE EPISTLE 



TO 



^mmmii®!^ 



^ 



Philemon seems to have been a substantial 
man at Colosse, who had a spacious house, in 
which a part of the christian church assembled, 
and in which travelling christians were enter- 
tained.^ The want of public inns among the 
ancients made this hospitality needful; and it 
was particularly enjoined to christians, to re- 
ceive one another hospitably: but, as every in- 
dividual was not in a condition to entertain 
christian strangers, the churches seem to have 
appointed one or more of their principal mem- 
bers for this purpose. t This was the office of 
deacons, so that Philemon had an office in the 
church; and indeed he is by some of the an- 
cients entitled bishop of Colosse. Whatever 
his ministerial office was, he is by St. Paul cal- 
led ^^his fellow labourer.''^ His son Archip- 

* Ver. 22. t Rom. xvi. 22. + Ver. 1,2. 



118 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

pus^ to whom this epistle is also addressed, 
had just before been deacon in the church of 
Colosse;* he is accordingly mentioned with 
honour by St. Paul, who not only styles him 
his fellow-labourer like his father, but also his 
fellow-soldier. 

Philemon seems to have been one of St. 
PauPs first fruits of the church at Ephesus, 
and not to have been converted like the rest by 
Epaphras, but by St. Paul himself;! having 
probably come to Ephesus, while St. Paul was 
there. 

This epistle was written from Rome, (at the 
same time with the Epistles to the Colossians, 
Philippians, &c.) about A. D. 62 or 63. The 
occasion of it was this: Onesimus, Philemon^s 
slave, had robbed him, and fled to Rome. 
There St. Paul meeting with him, converted 
him to the christian faith, and having kept him 
some time to be satisfied of his reformation, 
sends him back to his master with this letter; 
which has always been admired for its deli- 
cacy of sentiment and masterly address, and 
may be considered as a fine model of epistola- 
ry writing. 

* Col. iv, 17, t Col. iv. 19. 



OF 

THE EPISTLE 

TO THE, 



This apostolic letter, according to the best 
authors^ both ancient and modern^ was the ge- 
nuine work of St. Paul;^ and according to the 
ancients^ was originally written in the Hebrew 
or Syriac language; out of which it was trans- 
lated into Greek by some apostolic person, who 
is believed to have been either St. Luke or Cle- 
ment. Some eminent critics^ however^ among 
the moderns^ find reason to think our present 
Greek copy was not a translation^ but the ori- 
ginal; and that the ancieiits were mistaken in 
this respect. 

St. Paul, contrary to his usual custom^ did 
not prefix his name to this epistle^ for a very 

* Many proofs of tlsis may be collected from this epistle itself. 
It is evident, from chap. ii. 3, that t'se writer was not one of Christ's 
disciples. See Dr. Lardner, who has fully discussed this point, and 
f(iids reason to give it to St. Paul. 



120 A KEY TO THE 

obvious reason, that he might not too early 
awaken the prejudices conceived against him 
by the Jewish converts, which might have led 
them to throw it aside unperused. It was writ- 
ten towards the end of (or soon after) St. PauPs 
imprisonment at Rome,* A. D. 63, to the con- 
verted Jews of Palestine, here called Hebrews^, 
as distinguished from the Hellenists, or foreign 
Jews. A severe persecution had deprived 
them of the apostle St. James, and had render- 
ed almost that whole church wavering in the 
faith. To confirm some, and to recover others 
from their apostacy, was the purpose of this 
epistle. 

As the zealous defenders of the Mosaic law 
would naturally insist on the divine authority 
of Moses, on the majesty and glory attending 
its promulgation by the ministry of angels, and 
the great privilege it aiforded those who ad- 
hered to it: the apostle shows, 

First. That in all these several articles Chris- 
tianity had an infinite superiority to the law. 

This topic he pursues from chap. i. to xi. 
wherein he reminds the believing Hebrews of 
the extraordinary favour shewn them by God, 
in sending them a revelation by his own Son^ 
whose glory was far superior to that of an- 

* Cbap. X. 34;xiii. 22,23- 



NEW TESTAMKNT. 121 

gels;* very naturally inferring from hence, the 
danger of despising Christ on account of his 
humiliation, which, in perfect consistence with 
his dominion over the world to come, was vol- 
untarily submitted to by him for wise and im- 
portant reasons: particularly to deliver us 
from the fear of death, and to encourage the 
freedom of our access to God.f With the 
same view, he magnifies Christ as superior to 
Moses, their great legislator; and from the 
punishment inflicted on those who rebelled 
against the authority of Moses, infers the dan- 
ger of contemning the promises of the gospel.:}: 
And as it was an easy transition to call to 
mind on this occasion that rest in Canaan, to 
which the authority invested in Moses was in- 
tended to lead them; the apostle hence cau- 
tions them against unbelief, as what would pre- 
vent their entering into a superior state of rest 
to what the Jews ever enjoyed.^ This caution 
is still further enforced by awful views of God^s 
omniscience, and a lively representation of the 
high-priesthood of Christ. || In the next place, 
he intimates the very hopeless situation of 
those who apostatise from Christianity;** and 
then, for the comfort and confirmation of sin-- 

* Chap. i. thrcughout. t Chap. ii. throughout, 

4 Chap. iii. 1^13, § Chap, iii, l4j iv. 11. 

I Chap. iv. 12; v. 14. ** Chap. vi. 1-^. 

11 



122 A KEY TO THE 

eere believers^ displays to them the goodness of 
God, and his faithful adherence to his holy en- 
gagements; the performance of which is sealed 
by the entrance of Christ into heaven as our 
forerunner.^ Still further to illustrate the 
character of our Lord, he enters into a parallel 
between him and Melchizedec, as to their title 
and descent; and, from instances wherein the 
priesthood of Melchizedec excelled the Leviti- 
cal, infers that the glory of the priesthood of 
Christ surpassed that under the law.f From 
these premises the apostle argues, that the 
Aaronical priesthood was not only excelled, 
but consummated by that of Christ, to which it 
w^as only introductory and subservient; and of 
course, that the obligation of the law was 
henceforth dissolved.^ Then recapitulating 
what he had already demonstrated concerning 
the superior dignity of Christ^s priesthood, he 
thence illustrates the distinguished excellence 
of the New Covenant, as not only foretold by 
Jeremiah^ but evidently enriched with much 
better promises than the old :§ explaining fur- 
ther the doctrine of the priesthood and inter- 
cession of CI iris t, by comparing it with what 
the Jewish high-priests did on the great day 

* Chap, vi. 9. lo the end. f CJunp. yii. 1-^17. 

t Chap. vii. 18, to the end. § Chap. viii. throughout. 



XEW TESTAMENT. 128 

of atonement.* Afterwards he enlarges ou 
the necessity of shedding Christ's bloody and 
the sufficiency of the atonement made by it;t 
and proves that the legal ceremonies could not 
by any means purify the conscience: whence / 
he infers the insufficiency of the Mosaic law, 
and the necessity of looking beyond it:{ he 
then urges the Hebrews to improve the privile- 
ges which such an high- priest and covenant 
conferred upon them, to the purposes of ap- 
proaching God with confidence, to a constant 
attendance on his worship, and most benevo- 
lent regards to each other. §> 

The apostle having thus obviated the insin- 
uations and objections of the Jews; for the 
satisfaction and establishment of the believing 
Hebrews, proceeds. 

Second. To prepare and fortify their minds 
against the storm of persecution, w^hich in part 
had already befallen them, and was likely to 
continue, and be often renewed. He reminds 
them of those extremities they had endured, 
and of the fatal effects which would attend 
their apostacy:|| calling to their remembrance 
the eminent examples of faith and fortitude ex- 
hibited by holy men and recorded in the Old 

* Chap, ix, 1 — 14. t Chap. ix. 15, to the en(k* 

Chap. X. 1—15. § Chap. x. 15—25. 

Chap. X. 26, to the end^ 



124 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

Testament* He concludes his discourse with 
glancing at many other illustrious worthies; 
and besides those recorded in Scripture^ refers 
to the case of several^ who suffered under the 
persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes. 2 Mac- 
cab, chap. viii. &c.t 

Having thus finished the argumentative part 
of the epistle, the apostle proceeds to a gene- 
ral application; in which he exhorts the He- 
brew christians to patience^ peace^ and holi- 
ness;T cautions them against secular views and 
sensual gratifications^ by laying before them 
the incomparable excellence of the blessings in- 
troduced by the gospel^ which even the Jewish 
economy^ glorious and magnificent as it was^ 
did by do means equal; § exhorts them to bro- 
therly affection? purity? compassion? depen- 
dance on the divine care? stedfastness in the 
profession of the truth? a life of thankfulness to 
God? and benevolence to man:|| and concludes 
the whole with recommending their pious min- 
isters to their particular regard? intreating 
their prayers? saluting them? and pronouncing 
on them a solemn benediction.** 

* Chap. xi. 1—29. f Chap. xi. SO. xii. 2. 

t Chap. xii. 3—14. § Chap, xii. 15—29. 

!| C!iap. xiii. 1— 16. ** Chap, xiii, 17, to the end. 



OF 

THE CATHOLIC EPISTLE OF 



^ ^^^^^k^^^ 



This and the following epistles are proba- 
bly called catholic or general^ because most of 
them were written^ not to particular churches^ 
but to the faithful dispersed throughout whole 
countries. The second and third epistles of 
St. John are added to them^ only because they 
were written by the same hand that wrote the 
firsts and would have been lost had they been 
copied separately. 

This epistle was written by St. James the 
less, the son of Alpheus or Cleophas, styled 
the brother^ i. e. kinsman of our Lord, who sta- 
tedly resided at Jerusalem, and is said by the 
ancients to have been the first bishop of that 
city: where he is believed to have suffered 
martyrdom in the former part of the year 62; 
and to have written this epistle a short 
time before his death: which a learned wri- 
ter^ thinks might be partly occasioned by the 
offence taken at this apostolic letter. 

* Dr. Lardner. 

11* 



126 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

It is generally understood to be addressed 
to the Jewish converts to Christianity dispersed 
abroad in the more distant regions: and that 
the apostle's design is partly to exhort the 
christian converts to constancy in sufferings 
and partly to warn them against certain Jew- 
ish vices. 

But Dr. Lardner thinks that this epistle was 
written to all Jews^ of every denomination 
throughout the worlds whether christians or 
otherwise: for this reason the apostle does not 
wish them grace or peace from Jesus Christy 
though he does not dissemble his own charac- 
ter; nor does he conclude with any christian 
benediction: and though a large part of the 
epistle is applicable to christians^ there are 
several paragraphs^ which seem particularly 
addressed to unbelieving Jews.^ 

* Chap. iv. 1—10. Chap. v. I— 8,&c. 



OF 



THE FIRST EPISTLE OF 



This apostolic letter is probably addressed 
to such gentiles as had forsaken idolatry and 
believed in the true God^ without having been 
circumcised^ and who afterwards became 
christians; such as Cornelius the centurion; 
i. e. christians from among the proselytes: 
^^elect (or declared to be such) through sancti- 
fication of the spirit.^^* The whole epistle 
abounds in assurances that these converts were 
regenerate and become children of God^ with- 
out Levitical sacrifices, merely through Christ. 

This epistle was written from a city called 
by St. Peter, Babylon: this some think to have 
been Babylon in Assyria, which, though de- 
molished, might possibly have some few chris- 
tians in its neighbourhood; however the gene- 
rality, both ancients and moderns, suppose it 
to have been a figurative name for Rome. 

* Vide chap, i, 2, compared with Acts x. 44 — 47. xi. 15—17. 



128 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

But M- Michaelis proposes a query, whether 
Jerusalem might not be shadowed under that 
name: he also thinks it was written so early 
as the year 49, soon after the great council 
held there. But the more received opinion is, 
that it was much later; either in the year 63, 
or 64, or at latest 65.* 

St. Peter^s chief design is, to confirm the 
doctrine of St. Paul, which the false teachers 
pretended he was opposing; and to assure the 
proselytes, that they stood in the true grace of 
God.t With this view he calls them elect, and 
mentions, thkt they had been declared such by 
the effusion of the Holy Ghost upon them. J 
He assures them that they were regenerate 
without circumcision, merely through the gos- 
pel and resurrection of Christ: §» and that 
their sufferings were no argument of their be- 
ing under the displeasure of God, as the. Jews 
imagined. II He recommends it to them, to 
hope for grace to the end.^* He testifies, that 
they were not redeemed by the paschal lamb, 
but through Christ, whom God had pre-ordain- 
ed for this purpose before the foundation of 
the world.ft 

* Dr, Lardcer. t Chap. v. 12. 

^ Chap. i. 1, 2. § Ver. 3, 4. 21—^5. 

jl Ver. 6—12. ** Ver. 13. 
it Ver. 18—20. 



Of 



IHE SECOND EPISTLE OF 



^-This second epistle is supposed to have 
been written many years after the former; viz. 
in A. D. 67^ a short time before St. Peter's 
martyrdom, which happened in 68^ and to 
which he alludes in one or two places.* 

The general design of this epistle is, to con- 
firm the doctrines and instructions delivered in 
the former epistle; ^^to excite the christian 
converts to adorn and stedfastly adhere to 
their holy religion as a religion proceeding 
from God^ notwithstanding the artifices of 
false teachers^ whose character is at large de- 
scribed; and notwithstanding the persecution 
of their bitter and inveterate enemies.^' 

The genuineness of this epistle has been 
doubted, from the peculiar style of the second 
chapter, which is different from the other parts 
of St. Peter's writings. Bishop Sherlock sup- 

* Chap. i. 13, 14. 



130 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

poses that the apostle^, describing in that 
chapter the character of such seducers as en- 
dangered the faith of the christian converts^ 
adopts the language and sentiments of some 
Jewish author^ containing a strong description^ 
in the eastern manner^ of some false prophets 
in that;, or an earlier age. 



OF 



THE FIRST EPISTLE OF 



This epistle of St. John (if it is not rather 
a little treatise) appears^ as well as his gospel^ 
to have been written against Cerinthus: in it 
he also alludes to the pernicious doctrine of 
the other Gnostics^ especially in the admoni- 
tions to walk in the lights to keep undefiled 
from sensual sins, and to abstain from idols. 
For whilst Cerinthus taught, that the law of 
Moses was abolished; the others maintained 
that eating things offered to idols, and fornica-^ 
tion, were indifferent acts. 

In opposition to those errors, St. John lays 
down three positions: First, that it is necessa- 
ry to walk in the light, and keep clear of fleshly 
lusts, in order to partake of the kingdom of 
God. Second. That it is necessary to keep 
the new commandment of lov'ing one another. 
Third. That Jesus was Christ and the Son of 



132 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

Gocl^ not only in his baptism, but also at the 
shedding of his blood. 

This little treatise or epistle is directed to 
all christians, wheresoever dispersed; and is 
supposed to have been written before the de- 
struction of Jerusalem, by such critics as apply 
chap. ii. 18, to the last time of the Jewish 
state. Others suppose it to have been written 
after the Jewish war,^ about the year 80; and 
others even so late as the year 91, or 92. 

* So Dr. Lardner. 



OF THE 



SECOND AND THIRD EPISTLES 



OF 



u'w^ ^%mM 



M^ 



These are improperly denominated catho- 
lic or general, being inscribed to two single 
persons, the one to some lady of distinction^ 
the other to Gains, or Cains; probably the 
same person whom St. Paul at Corinth styles 
his host,* and who is celebrated for his hospi- 
tality to his brethren. But a learned writerf 
rather thinks he was an eminent christian, who 
lived in some city of Asia not far from Ephesus^ 
where St. John chiefly resided after he had 
left Judea. 

These letters are conjectured to have been 
sent about the same time with, or soon after, 
the former. 

* Rom. xvi. 23. 1 Cor. i. 14. t Dr. Lanlner, 

12 



OF 

THE CATHOLIC EPISTLE OF 



w^ ^mmm 



% 



This was written by Jiide^ or Judas, the 
brother of James the less. The remarkable 
similarity between this and part of the second 
epistle of Peter was probably owing to both 
writers drawing their character of the false 
teachers from the description given of the false 
prophets in some ancient Jewish author: and it 
is also possible that St. Jude might have the 
second epistle of St. Peter before him. They 
both prove, against certain heretics (probably 
the Gnostics,) that a great day of judgment is 
impending, and conclude from the judgments 
of God formerly exerted, that God will be an 
avenger of evil. 

This is believed to have been written after 
most (if not all) the other apostolical epistles; 
w^hen St. Jude was arrived at a very old age. 
Dr. Mill even dates it A. D. 90: others sup- 
pose it to have been written much earlier; yet 
after that of St. Peter, about A. D. 65, or 66. 



OF 



IHE REVELATION OF 



'UW^ ^%W&M^ 



This prophetical book is agreed to have 
been written by St. John the Evangelist, who, 
according to Eusebius, was banished to Pat- 
mos, an isle in the jEgean Sea, and there re- 
ceived the visions contained in this book, in 
the last year of the reign of Domitian, about 
the year 96. Others suppose it was written 
before the destruction of Jerusalem. This is 
the opinion of M. Michaelis, who dates it so 
early as the time of Claudius or Nero, long^ 
before St. John^s gospels or epistles. In this 
he follows the opinion of Sir Isaac Newton, 
who concludes it must have been composed in 
an early period of St. John^s life, because the 
styie, he thinks, abounds with Hebraisms, and 
is not penned in such good and fluent Greek as 
the gospels and epistles; which he supposes 
were written when the apostle had acquired a 
more perfect knowledge of the Greek tongue. 
Other critics however do not allow so great a 



136 A KEY TO THE 

difference of language between this and St. 
John's other writings; at least not more than 
what they think may be occasioned by the dif- 
ference of subject^ arising from allusions to the 
prophetic books of the Old Testament^, or from 
the abruptness and obscurity of the prophetic 
style. It is again urged^ that the revelation 
mentions no other heresy^ as flourishing, but 
that of the Nicolaitans,^ which subsisted long 
before that of Cerinthus^ against which St. 
John wrote his gospel between A. D. 65 and 
68^ and therefore the Revelation must have 
been written long before. In opposition to 
this, it is doubted whether the seven churches 
of Asia were founded so early as the times of 
Claudius or Nero; or had at least undergone 
such great changes and revolutions as are al- 
luded to in this book. It has likewise been 
thought improbable that the apostle should 
give this prophetic and mysterious book before 
ever he had delivered a plain and simple nar- 
rative of the life of his Master; the latter, as 
it would be of the greatest use to christians, 
would naturally be first afforded them; and 

* The Nicolaitans, according to ancient writers, were a sect who 
taught the lawfulness of lewdness and idolatrous sacrifices; they were 
so called from one Nicolas, their founder. By Nicolaitans in Scrip- 
ture are thought to he meant, in general, lewd and profligate per-^ 
sons, who aim at nothing but their own secular advantage. 



NEW TESTAMKNT. 137 

the apostles would be most likely to lay down 
the great and fundamental doctrines of Chris- 
tianity in general, before they would think of 
entering into the state of particular churches, 
or describe the events of future times, whether 
near or remote. 

Some other arguments for the more early 
date of this book are given by M. Michaelis, 
and others; but, as they allow them all to be 
subordinate to that urged above from the un- 
common prevalence of the oriental idioms in 
this book beyond what are found in the other 
writings of St. John, this will not be judged 
very decisive, if, after all, it should appear 
that this is no more than the natural conse- 
quence of the subject; and that St. John, ex- 
pressing in Greek the images of the ancient 
Hebrew prophets, had a particular reason for 
adopting their phraseology and idioms, as be- 
ing inseparable from the prophetic style;^ so 
that, upon the whole, perhaps, Vv e may reason- 
ably abide by the express testimony of Irensa- 
us,f that this sacred book was written in the 

* See what is urged on the subject of prophetic style, ia Dr. Hurd's 
Lectures, referred to below. See particularly seraioa the ninth 

t Advers Hseres. lib. vi cap. 30. p. 449. ed. Grab. See also Eu- 
sebius, Chron. lib. i. Ed. Seal. p. 80. Vide etiam p. 164. lib poste- 
rioris, and Chron. Can. p. 208. Hist. Eccles. lib. iii. cap. 18. Bp. 
Newton on the prophecies, vol. iii. p. 14, 15. 

12* 



138 A KEY TO THE 

reign of Domitian; as that ancient father was 
a disciple of Polycarp^ who had been a disciple 
of St. John himself. 

But at whatever period of his life the Reve- 
lation was composed^ there is strong internal 
evidence,^ as well as the most convincing posi- 
tive testimony, that this book was written by 
St. John the evangelist.f It is no less obvious 
that the contents are of a prophetic nature^ and 
that they exhibit a series of visions, descrip- 
tive of very important events that were to suc- 
ceed in the course of ages. 

Many ingenious and learned men have un- 
dertaken to illustrate this sacred book, and 
even to point out very precisely the particular 
events predicted by its inspired author: but 
their success has not always been answerable 
to their sanguine expectations. Perhaps a 
complete and perfect commentary must be re- 
served for future ages, when many of the 
events have taken place, which are predicted 
in it, but remain at present unaccomplished. 

However, the pious student ought not to be 
discouraged from the perusal of these divine 
prophecies: and it is certain that he < o jld 
never sit down to consider them with so much 



* See Dr, Twells, M. Michaelis, &c. 
t See Lardaer, Doddridge, &c. 



NKW TKSTAMENT. 139 

advantage as he can at present^ when he is fur- 
nished with so excellent an introduction to the 
study of these and all other prophecies^, which 
regard the christian church, in the lectures late- 
ly published by the learned and ingenious 
preacher at Lincoln^s Inn.^ 

To this admired writer, it will be sufficient 
here to refer the reader, and he will lead him 
to as excellent a commentator in the great and 
admirable Joseph Mede; to whose works these 
new lectures are a most useful introduction. 
It will be sufficient here to give a short extract 
from the latter, to assist the reader in forming 
a distinct idea of the method in which the 
whole book of the apocalypse is disposed: 
which he will readily do, if he observes that it 
is resolvable into three great parts. 

The first part is that of the epistles to the 
seven churches, contained in the three first 
chapters. This, as containing little or nothing 
prophetic, is not at all considered by Mr. 
Mede. 

The second part (with which Mr. Mede be- 
gins his commentary; is that of the sealed book, 
from chap. iv. to chap. x. and contains the 



* Introduction to the study of the prophecies concerning the chris- 
tian church, and in particular concerning the church of Papal Home, 
in twelve sermons, &c. by Richard Hurd, D. D. London, 1775^, 8vo. 



140 ' A KEY TO THE 

fates of the Roman empire^ or its civil revolii- 
tions; yet with a reference still to the state 
and fortune of the christian church. 

The third part is that of the open book, with 
what follows to the end; and exhibits, in a 
more minute and extended view, the fates of 
the christian church, especially during its 
apostacy, and after its recovery from it. 

This third division may^ further, be consi- 
dered as consisting of two parts. 

The first contains in chap. xi. a summary 
view of what should befall the christian churchy 
contemporary with the events deduced in the 
second part, concerning the empire; and is 
given in this place, in order to connect the se- 
cond and third parts, and to shew their corres- 
pondence and contemporaneity. See Mr. 
Mede's Clavis, p. 424, and Comment. Apo- 
calypt. p. 476. 

The second part of the last division (from 
chap. xii. to the end) gives a detailed account 
of what should befall the christian church in 
distinct and several of them synchronical 
visions. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 141 

Here we should conclude; but as the curious reader 
m^y desire to be informed how the predictions revealed 
in this book of St. John have usually been interpreted 
and applied by protectants, we shall, consistent with our 
subject, subjoin a key to the prophecies contained in 
the revelation. That is extracted frou) the learned dis- 
sertations of Dr. Newton, bishop of Bristol:* to which 
the reader is referred for a more full illustration of the 
several parts, as the conciseness of our plan only ad- 
mits a short analysis or abridgment of them.* 

* Disertations on the propliecies which have remarkably been ful- 
lilled, and at this time are fulfilling in the world, vol. iii. 8vo. 



A 

KEY 

TO THE PROPHECIES CONTAINED IN THE 

REVELATIONS. 



Nothing of a prophetical nature occurs in 
the first three chapters^ except^ Firsts what is 
said concerning the church of Ephesus^ that her 
^^candlestick shall be removed out of its place/^ 
which is now verified^ not only in this, but in 
all the other Asiatic churches which existed at 
that time; the light of the gospel having been 
taken from them, not only by their heresies 
and divisions from within, but by the arms of 
the Saracens from without: and, second, con- 
cerning the church of Smyrna, that she shall 
^^have tribulation ten days;'^ that is, in pro- 
phetic language, ten years; referring to the 
persecution of Diocletian, which alone of all 
the general persecutions lasted so long. 

The next five chapters relate to the opening 
of the seven seals; and by these seals are inti- 
mated so many different periods of the pro- 



A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 143 

phecy. Six of those seals are opeued in the 
sixth and seventh chapters. 

The first seal or period is memorable for 
conquests. It commences with Vespasian^ 
and terminates in Nerva; and during this time 
Judsea was subjugated. 

The second seal is noted for war and slaugh- 
ter. It commences with Trajan^ and continues 
through his reign^ and that of his successors. 
In this period, the Jews were entirely routed 
and dispersed; and great was the slaughter 
and devastation occasioned by the contending 
parties. 

The third seal is characterised by a rigorous 
execution of justiccj and an abundant provision 
of corn^ wine, and oil. It commences with 
Septimius Severus. He and Alexander Seve- 
rus were just and severe emperors, and at the 
same time highly celebrated for the regard 
they paid to the internal felicity of their peo- 
ple by procuring them plenty of every thing, 
and particularly corn, wine, and oil. This pe- 
riod lasted during the reigns of the Septimian 
family. 

The fourth seal is distinguished by a concur- 
rence of evils, such as war, famine, pestilence, 
and wild beasts; by all which the Roman 



144 A KKY TO THE 

empire was remarkably infested from the reiga 
of JVlaxiinin to that of Diocletian. 

The fifth seal begins at Diocletian, and is 
signalised by the great persecution, from 
whence arose that memorable sera, the sera of 
martyrs. 

With Constantine begins the sixth seal, a 
period of revolutions, pictured forth by great 
commotions in earth and in heaven, alluding to 
the subs7ersion of paganism, and the establish- 
ment of Christianity. This period lasted from 
the reign of Constantine the great to that of 
Theodosius the first. 

The seventh seal includes under it the re- 
maining parts of the prophecy, and compre- 
hends seven periods distinguished by the 
sounding of seven trumpets. 

As the seals foretold the state of the Roman 
empire before and till it became christian, so 
the trumpets foreshow the fate of it afterwards; 
each trumpet being an alarum to one nation or 
other, rousing them up to overthrow that em- 
pire. 

Four of these trumpets are sounded in the 
eighth chapter. 

At the sounding of the first, Alaric and his 
Goths invade the Roman empire, besiege Rome 
twice; and set it on fire in :beverai places. At 



NEW TESTA.MKNT. 145 

the sounding of the second^ Attila and his 
Huns waste the Roman provinces and compel 
the eastern emperor Theodosius the second^ 
and the western emperor Valentinian the 
thirds to submit to shameful terms. At the 
sounding of the third^ Genseric and his van- 
dals arrive from Africa: spoil and plunder 
Rome^ and set sail again with immense wealth 
and innumerable captives. At the sounding 
of the fourth, Odoacer and the Heruli put an 
end to the very name of the western empire; 
Theodoric founds the kingdom of the Ostro- 
goths in Italy; and at last Italy becomes a 
province of the eastern empire, Rome being 
governed by a Duke under the Exarch of Ra- 
venna. 

As the foregoing trumpets relate chiefly to 
the downfall of the western empire^ so do the 
two following to that of the eastern. They 
are sounded in the ninth, tenth, and part of the 
eleventh chapter. 

At the sounding of th€ fifth trumpet, Ma- 
homet, that blazing star, appears, opens the 
bottomless pit, and with his Locusts, the Ara- 
bians, darkens the sun and air. And at the 
sounding of the sixth, a period not yet finished, 
the four angels, that is, the four Sultanies, or 
leaders of the Turks and Othmans, are loosed 
13 



146 A KEY TO THE 

from the river Euphrates. The Greek or eas- 
tern empire was cruelly ^^hurt and tormented''^ 
under the fifth trumpet; but under the sixth^ it 
was ^^slain/^ and utterly destroyed. 

The Latin, or western church being in no 
wise reclaimed by the ruin of the Greek or 
eastern^ but still persisting in its idolatry and 
wickedness; at the beginning of the tenth chap- 
ter, and under the sound of this sixth trumpet;^ 
is introduced a vision preparative to the pro- 
phecies respecting the western church, where- 
in an angel is represented having in his hand 
a little book, or codicil, describing the calam- 
ities that should overtake that church. The 
measuring of the temple, &c. shews, that, dur- 
ing all this period there will be some true chris- 
tians, who will conform themselves to the rule 
of God^s word, even whilst the outer court, 
that is, the external and more extensive part 
of this temple or church, is trodden under foot 
by gentiles, i. e. such christians as, in their 
idolatrous worship and persecuting practice 
resemble and outdo the gentiles themselves. 
Yet against these corrupters of religion, there 
will always be some true witnesses to protest, 
who, however they may be overborne at times, 
and in appearance reduced to death, yet will 
ari«e again from time to time, till at last they 



IkEW TESTAMENT. 147 

triumph and gloriously ascend. The eleventh 
chapter concludes with the sounding of the 
seventh trumpet. 

In the twelfth chapter^ by the woman bear- 
ing a man-child is to be understood the christian 
church; by the great red dragon^ the heathen 
Roman empire; by the man-child whom the 
woman bore, Constantine the great; and by the 
war in heaven^ the contests between the chris- 
tian and heathen religions. 

In the thirteenth chapter^ by the beast with 
seven heads and ten horns^ unto whom the dra- 
gon gave his power^ seat, and great authority, 
is to be understood, not pagan but christian, 
not imperial but papal Rome; in submitting to 
whose religion, the world did in effect submit 
again to the religion of the dragon. The ten- 
horned beast therefore represents the Romish 
church and state in general: but the beast with 
two horn3 like a lamb, is the Roman clergy; and 
that image of the ten-horned beast, which the 
two horned beast caused to be made, and in- 
spired with life, is the pope; whose number 
is 666, according to the numerical powers 
of the letters constituting the Roman name 
Ac6ieivoq, Latinus^ viz. 
A, 50. A, 1. T, 300. E, 5. I, 10, N, 50. O, 70. S, 200. (666.) 



148 A KEY TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

Chapter xiv. By the Lamb on Mount Sion 
is meant Jesus; by the hundred forty and four 
thousand;, his church and followers; by the an- 
gel preaching the everlasting gospel^ the first 
principal effort made towards a reformation by 
that public opposition formed against the wor- 
ship of saints and images by emperors and 
bishops in the eighth and ninth centuries; by 
the angel crying^ ^^Babylon is fallen/^ the Wal- 
denses and Albigenses^ who pronounced the 
church of Rome to be the Apocalyptic Baby- 
lon^ and denounced her destruction; and by 
the third angel^ Martin Luther and his fellow 
reformers^ who protested against all the cor- 
ruptions of the church of Rome^ as destructive 
to salvation. 

Here we may put a period to this short ana- 
lysis of the Revelations^ as what follows seems 
not to be of such obvious interpretation as the 
preceding^ and therefore the curious reader 
will consult the Bishop^s dissertations them- 
selves. In reading those or any other illustra- 
tion of the prophecies contained in this myste- 
rious bookj he will do well always to have be- 
fore him the judicious work of Joseph Mede^ 
above noted. 

THE END. 






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